Request By:
Billy J. Moseley
Mary Ann Scott
Emily M. Perkins
Opinion
Opinion By: Gregory D. Stumbo, Attorney General; James M. Ringo, Assistant Attorney General
Open Records Decision
The question presented in this appeal is whether the Kentucky State Police (KSP) violated the Open Records Act in denying the September 18, 2007, request of Lawrence W. Webster, attorney for John Keen, for copies of "the public records relative to the investigation of, the events of or other reports or data pertaining to the death of John Michael Keen on December 4, 2006 in Pike County, Kentucky." For the reasons that follow, we find that the State Police properly denied Mr. Webster's request.
In a letter of appeal dated November 6, 2007, Billy J. Moseley, an attorney in Mr. Webster's firm, advised that, as of that date, they had received no response from the KSP to their request or any reason why KSP had not provided any documentation.
After receipt of notification of the appeal, Emily M. Perkins, Commissioner's Office, KSP, provided this office with a response to the issues raised in the appeal. In her response, Ms. Perkins advised, in relevant part:
This office never received any request from Mr. Moseley or any other member of his office for this information and it is my understanding that the Kentucky State Police 9 has been unable to locate any request it may have received. Nevertheless, this investigation is an open, ongoing, active investigation that is exempt from disclosure by KRS 17.150(2) and 61.878(1)(h). As such, I respectfully request that the precedents set forth in numerous opinions and open records decisions by your agency be followed and the denial of this request be upheld. See OAGs 87-15; 87-35; and 90-143; Open Records Decisions 04-ORD-041; 04-ORD-114; 04-ORD-234; 05-ORD-232; 05-ORD-246; 05-ORD-251; 06-ORD-203; 07-ORD-140; and 07-ORD-247.
For the reasons that follow, it is the decision of this office that the Kentucky State Police acted consistently with the Open Records Act in denying access to the requested records.
We address first the claim that the KSP failed to respond to the open records request. In her response, Ms. Perkins advised that the KSP had never received and that it was her understanding that KSP Post 9 had been unable to locate any request it may have received. In his letter of appeal, Mr. Moseley stated that on September 18, 2007, his office wrote an open records request to the KSP and as of November 5, 2007, they had received no response. Insufficient information is presented in this appeal for this office to resolve the factual dispute concerning the actual delivery and receipt of the open records request, thus, we make no finding in this regard. See 03-ORD-061.
In our view, 05-ORD-103, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated by reference, is controlling on the facts presented. By invoking KRS 17.150(2) and expressly indicating that the requested records concern an open investigation, the KSP satisfied the burden of proof imposed upon public agencies by KRS 61.880(2)(c).
KRS 61.878(1)(l) provides in pertinent part:
The following public records are excluded from the application of KRS 61.870 to 61.884 and shall be subject to inspection only upon order of a court of competent jurisdiction;
. . .
(l) Public records or information the disclosure of which is prohibited or restricted or otherwise made confidential by enactment of the General Assembly.
KRS 17.150(2) provides in relevant part:
Intelligence and investigative reports maintained by criminal justice agencies are subject to public inspection if prosecution is completed or a determination not to prosecute has been made. However, portions of the records may be withheld from inspection if the inspection would disclose:
(a) The name or identity of any confidential informant or information which may lead to the identity of any confidential informant;
(b) Information of a personal nature, the disclosure of which will not tend to advance a wholesome public interest or a legitimate private interest;
(c) Information which may endanger the life or physical safety of law enforcement personnel; or
(d) Information contained in the records to be used in a prospective law enforcement action.
KRS 17.150(2) provides for the nondisclosure of intelligence and investigative reports maintained by criminal justice agencies prior to the completion of the prosecution or the decision not to prosecute has been made.
This office has stated in numerous past opinions that a Kentucky State Police case file is not open for inspection while the investigation is ongoing. 95-ORD-15, 93-ORD-98, OAG 91-8, and OAG 90-143. Accordingly, it is the decision of this office that the KSP properly denied the request for the requested KSP investigative file on the basis that the investigation and case was still open and ongoing. The agency's denial is in accord and consistent with KRS 61.878(1)(l) and KRS 17.150(2).
Once the investigation and legal action have been completed or a decision has been made to take no legal action, the records requested will be subject to public inspection unless excluded by another applicable statutory exception to the right of public inspection. OAG 90-143.
A party aggrieved by this decision may appeal it by initiating action in the appropriate circuit court pursuant to KRS 61.880(5) and KRS 61.882. Pursuant to KRS 61.880(3), the Attorney General should be notified of any action in circuit court, but should not be named as a party in that action or in any subsequent proceeding.
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