Newspapers v. Breier

This action arose out of a request by Joseph W. Shoquist, managing editor of The Milwaukee Journal, for regular access to a number of police records. Harold A. Breier, Chief of Police of the City of Milwaukee, responded to Shoquists request by granting access to some records and refusing access to others. In the Chiefs letter dated July 3, 1974, he stated that the press would be provided, upon demand, the name, age and date of birth of all persons taken into custody, the time the suspect was taken into custody, and the names of the arresting officers. He refused to permit the press access to the records showing the charge on which particular persons were arrested and refused to permit access to the names of informants. Although the newspaper has not agreed to the Chiefs intention to withhold information in respect to informants or complainants, the newspaper has never sought to get that information. In the instant case it only asserts the right under sec. 19.21(1) and (2), Stats., to immediate access to the records which show on a chronological and daily basis the charges upon which persons were arrested.