Law enforcement feels pressure in issuing press releases

By Editor | December 31, 2025 |

By BETH ZUMWALT

Ever drive or see an incident involving law enforcement or emergency personnel? There is a better than average chance you won’t read or hear about it in the news.
Sheriffs and other law enforcement officials says they are being bombarded by numerous Freedom of Information Act requests (FOIA).
“I generally don’t do press releases anymore unless it’s either really serious or something that has caused a buzz,” Michael Starman, Pittsfield Chief of Police, said. “It’s not that I don’t want to, but, every time I do, I get 20-30 FOIA requests from YouTubers and police haters. It never stops.”
The state of Illinois gives agencies five days to reply to a FOIA request, extensions are possible.
Anyone can request a FOIA. Once the public body is identified that holds the information, anyone can request information regarding any issue with that entity.
Those requesting information, should: state clearly they are making the request under the FOIA. Requests should include, name and contact info and a specific detailed description of the documents being requested.
It is best to request information via e-mail for tracking purposes. No special form or explaination of why the information is being requested is required. The first 50 pages of a request are free with additional pages being $.15 per copy.
The information collected is not to be used for commercial use. Law enforcement can redact certain portions of the information or contest the inquiry due to the investigation not being complete.
“They say it is not for commercial purposes, but, they post it on-line and then charge people to look at it,” David Greenwood, Pike County Sheriff, said. “To me that is a commercial purposes.
Greenwood said it is not about lack of transparency in his office, but the time consuming nature of the process that is burdensome to his office.
“”They want camera video, all documentation, everything,”he said. “I would much rather get a subpoena for information because then no reports need to be redacted. I have called attorneys and asked them to get a subpoena and they usually will do that.”
Information that can be redacted includes, anyone not involved in the incident, by-standers, etc.
Greenwood said it is not local people requesting the information, but, groups and organizations from as far away as Washington state.
“We are not trying to hide anything” Greenwood said. “It’s is just so timeconuming. We have had to put investigations on hold to deal with these things.”
The Illinois Sheriff’s Association is aware of the issue and is looking for ways to mitigate the impact the requests sheriffs, many under reduced manpower due to financial limitations, receive.
According to the ISA, there is no formal plan drafted at this time, but, plans to address it in the future.