SANDY HOOK: 911s, Soto pictures, and truth through open records laws

For just over a year, we've all been looking for the "key" that would unlock what really happened December 14th, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Despite officials' efforts to suppress, open records laws are fairly clear. One person with knowledge of CT's Open Records Laws and the testicular fortitude to keep pushing might just help in getting the proverbial "smoking gun".

I'd be interesting in joining a group to combine efforts in getting things requested, if there's interest there, especially if we can get a reasonable plan together.

There are a few battles I think would be worth fighting when it comes to Open Records and Sandy Hook:

- The missing 911 calls. There seem to be *many* more 911 calls than have been released thus far. In every version of open records laws I know of, *every* call to 911 is considered a public records and is to be recorded and archived. In some cases, calls are made to 911 and then rerouted to another department's non-emergency number. In this case, since non-emergency calls are *not* protected as public records, that the very least the first portion of the call (before transfer) is required to be recorded and archived. I would say a good start would be requesting each unaccounted for call that we know of individually and specifically.

- The photos "seen" by the Sotos. Here's the thing with public records: They can't pick and choose who gets access to what. If the Soto family were shown photos of *just* Victoria, that would be not necessarily be considered a "public" release (Victim's families are regularly given access to documents and evidence that aren't released publicly). However, the Sotos are loudly claiming, in graphic detail, to have seen photos of the general scene and photos of other victims... Those photos, under most laws, would now be considered public record.

It is important that any requests are entered are done so professionally and completely. Law should be cited, and each record requested should be described in as much detail is possible. Here is my general request that I use daily:

To Whom It May Concern

Pursuant to Ohio’s open records law, Ohio Rev. Code Ann. Secs. 149.43 to 149.44, I write to request access to and a copy of:

- ((( description of desired record )))

I am under deadline & appreciate a timely response.
If your agency does not maintain these public records, please let me know who does and include the proper custodian’s name and address.

If you choose to deny this request, please provide a written explanation for the denial including a reference to the specific statutory exemption(s) upon which you rely.

Records can be emailed to (((email))), or left for pickup at your office. I can be reached at xxx xxx xxxx.