After initially denying requests, St. Croix County released records regarding a former deputy after The Badger Project sued. But the county has refused to pay the journalism organization’s attorney fees.
The Badger Project sued the Wind Point Police Department after it denied records requests related to an officer who resigned in 2023. The village agreed to produce what they had and pay attorney’s fees.
Following The Badger Project’s reporting, the Richland Center Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Office have discontinued a minimum $25 fee for records, which experts said was illegal.
The law enforcement agencies’ minimum fees, experts say, contradict Wisconsin state law that states any charges for records requests must be tied to a calculation of the actual cost of producing the records.
A veteran of that Racine County police department quit in 2023 before the completion of an investigation into his conduct. The Badger Project sued after the department denied its requests for that investigation.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation twice refused to release records pertaining to a former State Patrol officer, so The Badger Project sued. Less than two weeks later, the department agreed to release them.
A former state trooper was “terminated for cause” in 2020, but has continued to work in law enforcement. The Badger Project argues the DOT’s refusal to release documents related to the case is illegal.
A deputy resigned from the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office before it concluded an investigation into her conduct. The county denied a request for those records, citing concerns over department morale.
The Badger Project is suing the Wisconsin Department of Justice for the names and work histories of all law enforcement officers in the state.
Along with co-plaintiff the Invisible Institute, The Badger Project is seeking the records to continue its work on wandering officers.
The AG says releasing the list could jeopardize officers’ safety. Experts call that far-fetched.
The Badger Project had to sue the police department to get the large parts of the investigation unredacted.
The police department had responded to a request by heavily redacting investigation documents into alleged misconduct of one of its officers.
The Media Openness Award acknowledges The Badger Project’s use of – and fight for – records to investigate law enforcement.
Transparency advocates plot next moves
After an open records request, the department released heavily-redacted documents from an internal investigation of a former lieutenant accused of misconduct.
The La Crosse Police Department had initially rejected a records request on an ex-police officer.
The Badger Project is suing the La Crosse Police Department for refusing to release public records regarding a former officer who resigned in lieu of resignation in 2019.
