Getting records from agencies

[zz4]

There is an interesting article in today's "San Mateo County Times":

Police obstruct records requests

Departments offer mixed reactions to criticism of compliance with law

URL (http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/ci_4999201)

I am posting this here not to say anything bad about cops, but because interested to see any comments LEO might have.

[way]

things that make u go hmmmm

[RolnCode3]

Whatever happened to a curve? Since nobody did well, move all those F-'s up to C+'s and say everyone passed!:angel

It's not a mystery...when everyone wants to armchair quarterback (and nobody thinks that the person who comes down with records requests just wants to submit attaboys) it's a natural reaction to be defensive. You would be too.

Unfortunately, it's not allowed. Work on fixing the problem, and move on. No use crying over spilled beer....and that's my personal opinion.

[silversvs]

We got an "F+" :applause

[Cosmo]

move all those F-'s up to C+'s and say everyone passed!
This is part of a NATIONWIDE investigation and not a laughing matter. LEO's would be wise to take notice.

[RolnCode3]

I spend 40 hours a week being serious. This is fun-time. Laugh about it...:p

[shraz]

MARIN POWAA! C- lol

[silversvs]

Originally posted by Cosmo
This is part of a NATIONWIDE investigation and not a laughing matter. LEO's would be wise to take notice.

We don't control the release of information from our agencies. Records management is a whole other animal all to itself.

Its kind of different to have the public mad at the police and its not being vented at an officer. Let the civilians have their day under a microscope.

Having read a few of the newspaper articles, I agree that it is something that needs to be addressed and fixed.

[motorman4life]

I know there is a lot of confusion among agencies as to what must be released, what can be released and what cannot be released. The problem is, if you release the wrong thing, you can get sued. Hell, even if you release the right thing, you can get sued! Just because you are right, does not mean someone can't file a suit.. then you have to show that you were right! It is a tough job for our CIVILIAN records personnel, but it has nothing to do with the police officers. Admin? yes. Civilian records personnel? yes. Cops? no.

Most records people find it easier to deny requests and make the requestor PROVE they have a right to see the info they are asking for.

With all of the new privacy laws as well as HIPPA and CLETS crackdowns, we (LEOs, Admin and other support staff) are constantly beat over the heads with "need to know" and "right to know" policies. These policies are constantly restricting the information investigators have access to and thus creating hurdles to investigations that did not exist a short time ago.

It truly is getting harder for peace officers to get information they need to do their jobs and employees at all levels are being given written tests by the state and told we cannot access or release information we could before. Meanwhile, the press is getting access to more and more information through freedom of information and other laws that are designed to provide oversight and allow interested parties and the press to serve as a watchdog over police.

In reading the article, it is truly hard to believe the wide array of information that should be released to anyone that comes into a department and requests it.

Also, while the people may have rights to information, the departments are not set up for releasing information (what must be redacted? what can be redacted? what cannot be redacted? who is going to redact it and how? What fees can be charged for the services, if any?).

It is another case where laws are passed that create an extra burden for local agencies... if your department wanted to get an A+, I'd imagine you would need several specially trained personnel and extra -non police- staffing to meet any an all information release requests in accordance with the law and in a timely manner. Who is going to pay for that? Who do we lay off to balance the budget?

East Palo Alto... F-. No surprise. They can't even handle their own town. The Sheriff's Office is backfilling 1/2 their staff. They can't even cover their friggin' shifts, let alone provide any semblance of customer service.

:applause I applaud those agencies that are making efforts to meet these new public information release standards without creating a negative impact on patrol, investigations or other critical services to their communities.