COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Supreme Court of Ohio has issued an announcement against the Chillicothe Police Department in favor of the Scioto Valley Guardian surrounding public records.
In the announcement made on Wednesday, the Court ordered the police department to show cause as to why they continue to withhold police reports in their entirety from the news media. The Guardian filed two suits against the city and their public safety force in late-2020 after the police department withheld numerous police reports, citing they were under investigation, according to the suit. The Guardian contended in their filing that while they respect the work police do, the law is clear that initial police reports are public record.
The Court has issued an alternative writ, which means that the police department and the city must explain why they are withholding records and show good cause. The Court also ordered the police department to hand over copies of the reports to the Court to review themselves.
The Court ruled on 11 Petitions for Mandamus on Wednesday. Of them, only two were granted, including the Guardian’s.
Attorney Emmett Robinson of Robinson Law Firm, LLC, represents the Guardian in the case.
The case announcement may be viewed by clicking here.
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