A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Tower Lakes Police Department on December 12, 2024. The request was made by the Lake County Gazette, a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs.
The request specifically sought access to arrest records from January 1, 2018, up until the present date. The desired information includes the name of the arrestee, date of arrest, gender and race of the arrestee, their date of birth, and the crime they were arrested for.
As representatives of the Lake County Gazette, we believe that access to public records is crucial in fulfilling our professional responsibilities. These include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
Given our role in disseminating information to the public, we have requested a fee waiver as a media professional under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140). This act allows for preferential treatment in certain cases where access to public records serves a larger public interest.
We await a response from the Tower Lakes Police Department regarding this matter.
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