Public Records

In Philadelphia, you’ll know when officers fire their weapons

“Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, in a memo sent yesterday to the Philadelphia Police Department’s commanding officers (which City Paper has obtained), announced that the department will immediately begin disclosing the names of officers who discharge their firearms in Officer-Involved Shootings “within seventy-two (72) hours of the incident.” According to the memo, the decision “is in keeping…

A Grinning Poster Boy for Closed Government

Gary Bies, R-Sister Bay, a member of Wisconsin’s Assembly majority, is doing what majorities of both major parties do: trying to limit knowledge of government’s action from their own constituents.   Bies proposes to make open government that much more closed: A state Republican wants to allow government entities to charge members of the public…

An Open Government/Public Records Victory in Vermont

SLAPP lawsuit to limit citizens’ rights to public records wisely rejected: A lawsuit filed by a school supervisory union district against a student parent and vocal policy critic was dismissed by Rutland superior court on Tuesday. The district sued Marcel Cyr, a parent, for placing a public records request. The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont hailed…