A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Franklin Police Department in Wisconsin on October 22, 2024. The request was made by Milwaukee South News, a media organization dedicated to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request, submitted under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., specifically sought all arrest records from January 1, 2024, to the present day. The requested data points include arrestee name, sex, race, age, date of birth (DOB), citizenship status; booking ID; date of arrest; booking photo; name(s) of arresting officer(s); type and location of crime; and date of crime.
As a media organization, we are involved in gathering and reporting news to the public. Access to public records is essential for us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public. Given our role in disseminating information, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional.
We will continue our efforts to provide comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs. We will keep you updated on any developments regarding this FOIA request with the Franklin Police Department.
