Shawnee County attorneys redacted portions of a document that overviews possible problems and solutions at the county’s Emergency Communication Center — an entity that has been plagued in recent years with understaffing and steep criticism from city of Topeka officials.
[…]
Read More… from Dispute over Shawnee County open records highlights gray area in Kansas law
In one of the biggest legal battles over government transparency in New Jersey, the state Supreme Court is poised to determine how much information the public receives in the hours and days after police officers use fatal force.
A key question in the case is whether law enforcement agencies must release records that name police officers who use fatal force in the line of duty. Another is whether dashboard-camera videos of such incidents are public or confidential.
[…]
Read More… from NJ: Justices weigh public’s right to know in fatal cop encounters
The City of Bloomington, Illinois, is facing a lawsuit over alleged violations of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). FOIA is a transparency law that’s intended to give citizens insights and data about their government and allow them to access important relevant documents and records from any federal agency.
Matthew Topic, the attorney from Loevy & Loevy representing plaintiffs Tammy Alexander and Raymond Wilson in the case, said the lawsuit, filed on Sept 30, arose because the city allegedly is withholding nonexempt public records regarding a murder case.
[…]
Read More… from IL: City of Bloomington accused of violating FOIA laws in probe of old murder case
In the wake of recent police shootings, the public outcry for transparency has come head to head with law enforcement agencies’ interpretation of freedom of information laws.
The statutes outline the public’s right to records produced by government agencies but also include exemptions for law enforcement records. Those are meant for such situations as protecting the identity of a confidential informant or keeping investigative techniques hidden from criminals.
[…]
A plan to make police body camera footage more accessible cleared a House committee Tuesday afternoon, but some legislators and open-government groups say the bill doesn’t go far enough.
[…]
Read More… from North Carolina legislators debate who should get access to police body camera videos
A Missouri House bill to close law-enforcement records to the public has no chance of passage in the Senate, Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, said Wednesday.
On April 28, the House passed the measure by a vote of 129-9 that would make police reports of suicide or attempted suicide closed records.
[…]
Read More… from Missouri closed-records bill has no chance to become law, state senator says
Police departments participating in the White House’s Police Data Initiative want other agencies to know that there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain from becoming more transparent with their data.
[…]
Read More… from Police chiefs: ‘There is nothing to fear’ about White House open data initiative
When the editor of a gay-oriented newspaper in Florida requested records that he thought should be public, he cast a wide net, asking that the email of every employee of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office be searched for specific gay slurs over a five-month period.
[…]
Read More… from Obtaining police emails can take months, cost thousands
Family and friends of Autumn Steele have many questions about the day the 34-year-old mom was accidentally shot and killed by a Burlington police officer.
Why was Officer Jesse Hill holding a gun when responding to a domestic disturbance in Steele’s front yard? Did Steele’s dog bite Hill as the officer alleged? How many shots were fired?
[…]
Read More… from Iowa bill would require police to release records in closed investigations
From Portland Press Herald: (Nov. 14, 2013) The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has ruled unanimously in favor of the Portland Press Herald’s appeal requesting authorities to release transcripts of 911 calls in a Biddeford murder case, opening the door on whether other 911 recordings are public record.
[…]
Read More… from Maine Supreme Court ordered to release 911 transcripts in Biddeford murder case
