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if only the actions had matched helpful faces
| Friday, Jan 12 2007 10:41 AM
Last Updated: Friday, Jan 12 2007 10:41 AM
While participating in Californians Aware’s recent public records audit, I found most of the people I came across at the Arvin Police Department and the Kern County Sheriff’s Department were helpful and polite in the face of what surely appeared to be a suspicious situation.
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While nearly all of them were generally unaware of or misinformed about provisions of the California Public Records Act, I credit them with taking what they thought to be the correct course of action. That said, they were mistaken on almost every count.
The audit attempted to simulate the experience of a member of the general public requesting public information to which they are entitled. Such a person should not have to identify himself or herself. And yet, at both departments, I was asked my name repeatedly, and often my purpose and affiliation as well.
In Arvin, my identity card was demanded in a rather rude fashion, even after I had filled out an unlawful request form. That was after a pleasant though fruitless experience. I ended up being referred to City Hall, which, though a very short walk away, was outside my prescribed duties for the day.
People at the sheriff’s office were busy but seemed to give everyone due attention. Some people requesting information were downright impolite by comparison.
One person in particular, Dan Turley, special projects manager for the Sheriff’s Department, was exceedingly cooperative. No, he ultimately did not get me the information the agency should have provided. And he was somewhat suspicious of this stranger demanding to see information that would not interest most people.
But Turley did put a warm and helpful face on the department. That’s just the kind of impression the agency might strive to give members of the public.
Now if they could only abide by the law.