A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Pepin County Sheriff's Department in Wisconsin regarding arrest records on October 22, 2024. We at WC Wisconsin News, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, are seeking these records under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq.
The request includes all arrest records from January 1, 2024, to the present day with specific data points if available. These data points include the arrestee's name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), citizenship status, booking ID number, date of arrest and booking photo. Additional information requested includes the name(s) of arresting officer(s), type of crime committed by the arrestee, location where the crime took place and the date when it occurred.
As members of the media community involved in gathering and reporting news to the public, access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities. These responsibilities include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as media professionals.
We await a response from the Pepin County Sheriff's Department regarding this request and will continue our efforts to ensure transparency within our local government institutions.
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