Last week, a newspaper editor called to discuss a situation in their community where an inmate had committed suicide. The local sheriff apparently decided it just wasn't that big a deal (a sad commentary on life and the value some folks place on it) and chose not to make the information available to the community. It took some digging by the local paper to access to records from that incident.
And then, the paper was told that the coroner's report on the death was a closed record. That pronouncement raises some interesting legal questions. Several years ago, the Western District Court of Appeals, in a decision that troubles me greatly, decided that coroner's reports were "investigative reports" under the Sunshine Law, and therefore were preliminary closed records within the terms of that word in the law.
Of course, the law is clear that while investigative reports are preliminarily closed records, they do become open records upon the occurring of certain events, including the decision by law enforcement to not pursue the investigation any longer because it is closed.
It was pretty clear, in this situation, that law enforcement had decided no other person was involved and therefore the agency would not pursue the investigation any further. When that happens, then it is clear the record of this coroner would become open to the public and it shouldn't have been withheld from the reporter's request.
While Ms. Maneke is a lawyer who represents Missouri Press Association members in cases involving the Sunshine Law, it is important to remember that the Sunshine Law was not put on the books just for the media. It is there for all of us and any time our elected officials are trying to hide things from us, it is all of us who pay, not just the reporters who are not able to land their stories.
4 comments:
I can't believe this guy holds office. There is a killer or killers running free and he's sent all the extra investigators he was given home.
Unbelievable! It's frightening to know that such brutal crimes can be committed right under this guy's nose and he doesn't do anything about it.
Remember everyone Archie was lionized by Randy who called him the “best politician in Jasper County”. Archie has always been a power mad liar who got appointed by promising not to run for the office. That initial behavior said it all: Archie is dishonest!
And I will stand by that assessment. Since retiring from the Highway Patrol, Archie has been elected sheriff as an independent, pushed through a sales tax, engineered the election the presiding commissioner, and found one way after another to put money into the Sheriff's Department with the help of the voters. He has had a minor setback or two, but for the most part he has been handed everything he has asked for. If county officials won't give it to him, he goes to the voters and gets it. I challenge you to show me anyone who has had as much success in recent years in Jasper Counnty politics. That is not commentary on his record as sheriff, simply a statement on how well he has done with the voters.
Did the Prosecutor stand behind the Sheriff's refusal to supply the records. Did the Prosecutor offer an opinion?
Is there no family member who wants the truth? Under 610.100.4 A family member of the deceased is allowed full access to the reports.
I know because I got the law changed when Jackson County tried to stop my access.
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