ARCHIVE: From the PNA Legal Hotline

Police

• August 21, 2008
  I am trying to get police blotters and press releases from several months ago from my local police department. The officer in charge of records refuses to provide copies because it is their policy to keep blotters and press releases on public display in the office for one week and after that, they are filed and become non-public. The police say this policy is necessary and legal because they do not have the time or the resources to locate old blotters and press releases. Can they do that?
• October 11, 2007
  There was an accident involving a construction worker on a state highway. One of our photographers was taking a picture of the accident scene when a firefighter told him to keep away and “have some decency, the guy is hurt.” The firefighter complained to a state police officer on the scene who then threatened to arrest our photographer. The photographer left the state highway as instructed and got permission to photograph from an adjacent property owner. Was the police officer correct in ordering the photographer to leave the public road?
• January 14, 2005
  The Pennsylvania State Police are refusing to release the identities of any juveniles who are involved in or witnesses to car accidents. Can they do that?