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GREENSBORO - A local blogger and an attorney are suing the city, alleging that Greensboro officials have failed to comply with public records requests.

Since November, Roch Smith Jr. and attorney Samuel Spagnola have sought records related to the Risk Management Association report into the Greensboro Police Department that led to the resignation of then-Chief David Wray.

Smith and Spagnola also asked for a photo lineup commonly referred to as the "black book." According to the lawsuit filed Friday in Guilford County Superior Court, the book "was allegedly used for illegitimate purposes by some of Wray's top commanders to discriminate against black officers."

"What's happened in our community is that we've got competing narratives about what happened with the police department and why," Smith said.

He says he believes the requested documents could help clarify what happened. The city has handed over some records, but not all that were requested, Smith said.

City spokeswoman Pat Bos­well declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing city policy.

However, she said the city is committed to complying with the laws and to being open with the community. The city brought in a public records law expert this month to discuss the state laws with employees, Boswell said.

Smith writes a blog called Roch101 that often follows government issues and has chronicled his efforts to obtain the documents.

"I think the city is being less transparent than the law allows ... than the law compels them to be," Smith said.

Smith and Spagnola want to hold a public meeting once the records are released so anyone can see the information.

Contact Jennifer Fernandez at 373-7064 or jennifer.fernandez@news-record.com