By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A Dane County judge has ordered the Wisconsin Department of Justice to release the names and certification information of every law enforcement officer in the state.
• The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by two news organizations after DOJ denied a public records request.
• The records include officers’ names, badge numbers and employment histories.
• The DOJ had argued disclosure could endanger undercover officers; the judge rejected that claim under state open records law.
• It was not immediately clear if the state DOJ will appeal the decision.
MADISON, WI — A Dane County Circuit Court judge has ruled that the Wisconsin Department of Justice must release its list of every certified law enforcement officer in the state, rejecting the agency’s refusal to disclose the records.
Judge Rhonda Lanford sided with media organizations that sued after the DOJ denied a public records request for the names, badge numbers, ages and employment histories of Wisconsin’s roughly 16,000 certified officers.
The DOJ had argued that releasing the full list could endanger undercover officers and impose undue burdens, but the court found those concerns did not outweigh the state’s strong presumption in favor of public access to government records.
The records at issue include officers’ certification details and employment history with law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin, according to court filings.
The ruling does not immediately say whether the DOJ plans to appeal, and further proceedings could address that question.