2. Police blotter.

Law enforcement agencies’ chronological logs and initial contact reports are generally public records. Utah Code Ann. § 63G-2-301(3)(g).

a. In Utah Dep’t of Pub. Safety v. State Records Comm., No. 100904439, at 3 (Utah 3d Dist. June 17, 2010), the court upheld the State Record Committee’s determination that the dash camera video and the DUI report form pertaining to former Utah Senator Sheldon Killpack’s traffic stop and arrest were initial contact reports under GRAMA and therefore public. In doing so, the court stated that GRAMA’s definition of “initial contact report” includes written as well as recorded records, and that a DUI report form is “prepared immediately following the incident and while the information is fresh in the reporting officer’s experience.” Id.

b. In Weibel v. Logan City, No. 94-06 (Utah State Rec. Comm. May 9, 1994), the State Records Committee held that the portion of police reports pertaining to persons against whom Logan City contemplated no further action was public, but that the portion pertaining to persons against whom criminal action was contemplated or pending was protected.

c. In Fox Television Stations v. Clary, No. 940700284 (Utah 2d Dist. Dec. 5, 1995), the court held that Sheriff Department reports containing information on sexual abuse of minor children were public records. Because the county had released another report that identified the victims and the person making the initial sexual abuse report, the court determined that the county was estopped from asserting confidential protection for the requested reports. In addition, the redaction of the victims’ names and other identifying information adequately protected any privacy interests.