Letter: Good luck with Newport PD

Recently Pauline Schottmuller, Newport council person, filed a complaint with the Newport Police Department relative to the Open Meeting Law. I have also filed complaints and requests with the Newport Police Department. The Chief Viedols Muiznieks is the designated authority for the dissemination of information. On Feb. 4, 2008, I filed a Data Practices Act request for information on police misconduct. A prominent attorney Mark Anfinson helped me draft the request. He is an expert in data practice requests from start to finish. At times, they wind up in court. These requests are tied to a timely response. Is a request dated Feb. 4, 2008 — a year ago — with no response considered timely? Only in Newport.

The end remains there are monetary penalties involved with willful violations (thousands of dollars).

In the past, an advisory opinion from the administrative law court stated Newport has not complied in a timely manner.

I hope Schottmuller has better luck with the Newport Police Department than I have had.

Paul Hansen

Newport

Tags: opinion, newport, minnesota, police, department