Jackson County sheriff denies request for report on shooting

From Sun Herald:

PASCAGOULA — Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd on Friday denied the Sun Herald a copy of an incident report about a shooting at the office of the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County, though the law says the report is public record.

“The law specifically requires the Sheriff’s Department to produce an incident report,” said Gulfport attorney Henry Laird, who specializes in First Amendment and public access issues. “The Mississippi Public Records Act requires that he give it to you. Incident reports are specifically mentioned in the public records act as being the kind of law enforcement record the newspaper is entitled to receive.”