FRESNO - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California brought the Fresno County Sheriff's Office to court in the Fresno County Superior Court for allegedly violating the Public Records Act.
According to an almost-200-page complaint filed on March 22, the ACLU required peace officer records from the defendant for officers that have used force causing death or great bodily injury, discharged firearms, sustained findings of sexual assault or sustained findings of dishonesty in the reporting, investigation or prosecution of a crime.
The plaintiff says that the sheriff's department ignored the request for almost two years, and finally began offering very limited documents after 22 months of follow-up and status requests.
ACLU further accuses the Fresno County Sheriff's Office of trying to charge thousands of dollars in improper administrative and production fees in response to the open records request.
The sheriff's office is charged with violation of the California Public Records Act and violation of the California Constitution.
ACLU is represented by Munger, Tolles and Olson LLP.