Disclosure of Information

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   Journal story....

City won’t reveal complaint against suspended Middletown officer

MIDDLETOWN — 
City administrators have refused to release details about the original complaint against a decorated Middletown police lieutenant that sparked a weeks-long internal probe and led to his 30-day suspension from the force.

This newspaper has requested under Ohio’s open records laws all documents pertaining to the investigation of Lt. Jim Cunningham, a 26-year veteran of the Middletown Division of Police.

Law Director Les Landen said Thursday the original complaint against Cunningham was given verbally to a police supervisor and then relayed verbally to him. Landen did not confirm whether he documented the initial complaint in writing. He did confirm that he took notes during his investigation, which included interviews with more than 52 police employees, but he declined to release those notes.

SO HOW DOES THIS DISCLOSURE THING WORK? IS THE CITY OBLIGATED BY LAW TO GIVE THE JOURNAL THE INFO? WOULD ADKINS AND LANDEN BE LIABLE? OR, IS THE CITY WITHIN IT'S RIGHTS TO WITHHOLD THE INFO UNTIL THE SITUATION IS FINALLY RESOLVED?

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VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Topic: Disclosure of Information Posted: Nov 07 2014 at 3:23pm
	Journal story.... City won’t reveal complaint against suspended Middletown officer MIDDLETOWN — City administrators have refused to release details about the original complaint against a decorated Middletown police lieutenant that sparked a weeks-long internal probe and led to his 30-day suspension from the force. This newspaper has requested under Ohio’s open records laws all documents pertaining to the investigation of Lt. Jim Cunningham, a 26-year veteran of the Middletown Division of Police. Law Director Les Landen said Thursday the original complaint against Cunningham was given verbally to a police supervisor and then relayed verbally to him. Landen did not confirm whether he documented the initial complaint in writing. He did confirm that he took notes during his investigation, which included interviews with more than 52 police employees, but he declined to release those notes. SO HOW DOES THIS DISCLOSURE THING WORK? IS THE CITY OBLIGATED BY LAW TO GIVE THE JOURNAL THE INFO? WOULD ADKINS AND LANDEN BE LIABLE? OR, IS THE CITY WITHIN IT'S RIGHTS TO WITHHOLD THE INFO UNTIL THE SITUATION IS FINALLY RESOLVED?
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