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Sometimes government officials go rogue when the press does its job. They become upset at the idea that people will learn something they want to keep secret. And they overreact.

Keeping government operations before the public’s eyes simply makes for more honesty and transparency. We have been fortunate in our region to have law enforcement that generally recognizes and accepts that sometimes government failures will be reported. It’s a bitter pill, but it’s better to swallow it and heal.

They are learning that lesson out in Kansas, where a small newspaper was raided last year after the police chief directed search warrants of a publisher’s newsroom and home because he had retrieved public information.

The Marion, Kansas police chief was forced to resign over that. The computers, notebooks and materials seized by police who raided not only the newsroom but also the homes of the publisher and reporter were returned. And now, two special prosecutors have announced that they will file a criminal obstruction of justice charge against the former chief who brought his five-man force and members of the Marion County sheriff’s office in to conduct the raids.

All of that because the newspaper was investigating whether a local restaurant owner had been arrested, charged and convicted of driving under the influence. The newspaper reporter used a state database to confirm that information and was attempting to determine whether that should have prevented the restaurateur from owning a liquor license.

Police officers seizing newsroom material and raiding journalists’ homes is what happens routinely in Russia, China and other lesser-known, dictator-run countries. Not here, right?

There was an unforgettable photo taken by security cameras inside the publisher’s home of his very upset 98-year-old mother in her bathrobe facing officers. Leaning forward on her walker, she no doubt was grilling the armed officers about their audacity and their grievous violation of the First Amendment.

I hope she gave them a shaming they won’t forget, because the next day she died. She was the co-owner of the newspaper.

As we all know, even a small-town police chief can hold considerable power and sway over a variety of officials, so he did not act alone in this. In order to get those search warrants, he needed judicial approval, the DA’s office and the backing of the county sheriff. Lots of skirts are dirty there.

Maybe the former chief will use a defense against his charges that he was never properly trained. That might be true because training about the First Amendment and people’s basic rights isn’t as popular today as it used to be, but that doesn’t excuse him from going rogue and tramping into a newsroom or the homes of the reporter and publisher.

The public has an inherent right and obligation everywhere in America to protect access to public information as well as protect those who seek it as part of their job to bring light to dark corners.

Larry McDermott is a local retired farmer/journalist. Reach him at hardscrabblehollow@gmail.com