WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Derek Myers, Publisher and Editor-in-chief of Scioto Valley Guardian, has taken legal action against the Washington Court House Police Department and the City of Washington Court House, accusing them of withholding crucial public records.
The sought-after records relate to the death of Tim West, who met his tragic end in police custody on October 1 after being tased in the head by an officer. The event, caught comprehensively on bodycam and dashcam, has raised pressing questions. Myers is pushing for the release of the incident’s official police report, accompanying witness statements, and video.
Despite the demand, Police Chief Jeff Funari has declined the public records requests, saying the incident is “under investigation.”
Myers, no stranger to such legal battles, won a case against the Chillicothe Police Department last year. That victory led to landmark case law, affecting how all 1,000 police departments in Ohio address public record requests — including Washington Court House. In the win, the Supreme Court of Ohio said that police reports must be released and are not “investigative” records.
The lawsuit against Funari was officially filed Thursday morning with the 12th District Court of Appeals.
Myers, emphasizing the importance of transparency, remarked, “Transparency isn’t just about adhering to the law; it’s about building public trust. The citizens deserve to know the actions taken in their name.” He continued, “The law is clear: public records are just that: public. Denying access erodes the very foundation of democracy.”
He also expressed frustration at the perceived obstinacy of the police department, stating, “The principle of public access to public records is a cornerstone of a transparent government. Our past lawsuit emphasized this. It’s disheartening to see city officials seemingly ignoring the lessons of history.”
It’s unfortunate the taxpayers and insurance company for the city will pay the price, he added.
Concluding his statement, Myers emphasized, “When the doors to public records are closed, it casts a shadow over the entire system. We hope to shed light on this issue, ensuring it doesn’t recur elsewhere in Ohio. Chief Funari — quite literally — fits the definition of stupid and illiterate if he can’t read the case for himself. He is unhinged and Floundering Funari is going to drown in legal peril because of his incompetence.”