Opinion ID: 2089228
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: lpd recordkeeping procedures

Text: Casady testified regarding the LPD's retention and use of police reports. Generally, Casady drew a distinction between incident reports and investigation reports. Incident reports are maintained as both a hard copy of a written report and as an electronic record containing some of the information on the officer's written report. Incident reports contain the name of the victim, but not the name of any suspects. The incident report in this case, contained in exhibit 3, identifies only C.C. as the victim and the LPD officer who prepared the report. The electronic incident report records are accessible to the LPD's police officers and civilian employees who have been determined to need access to those records in the course of their duties. Police incident reports are public records, available to the general public upon request. In addition, the FBI is provided with and maintains records of code numbers, the nature of the event, and the date of each incident report for the purpose of compiling national crime statistics, but the FBI does not have access to the report and is not given any identifying information. A supplementary investigation report is a narrative report about any case or information that an officer cares to prepare. Such a report names all the persons involved in the case, including suspects. These reports are electronic records and are not regularly kept as hard copies. They may be accessed by the LPD's police officers and civilian employees who need to access them. Case investigation reports and additional case investigation reports are maintained as hard copies, and not as electronic records. They include names and details of the investigation. Investigation reports are not available to the general public, including victims, without a subpoena or a court order. Governmental officials or agencies charged with criminal investigatory responsibilities may be provided with copies of such reports upon request. Such officials or agencies include federal law enforcement agencies, courts, probation officers, probation departments in Nebraska, and DHHS in child abuse and neglect investigations. Military agencies charged by law with criminal investigative responsibility, such as the Naval Investigative Service, might also access investigation reports. Federal civil service personnel, however, would not be able to get copies of investigation reports. The LPD has extensive rules and regulations about the distribution of information that are rigorously enforced. Reports are kept in a secure area and, when discarded, are securely recycled and destroyed. Casady also testified at length regarding the utility of such records to the LPD. Casady stated that the reports document the LPD's investigation in the event that questions arise about whether an investigation has been handled properly; for instance, Casady noted that police investigations sometimes result in litigation. Casady also stated that the reports preserve a record of the investigation in case allegations are made in the future, either by C.C. or against the appellant. Casady also testified that the reports would provide documentation if C.C. was ever convicted of a crime and his childhood history was a relevant issue in sentencing. Casady stated that if anyone ever wanted testimony from the investigating police officer or anyone else at the LPD regarding the investigation, the police reports would provide the only record. Casady also testified that the reports help him to provide oversight to ensure competent investigations, noting that there is occasionally a need to investigate the death of a child regarding whom there have been previous reports or referrals. Casady testified that in his opinion, there is a valid place in police reports for clearly noted opinions. Casady admitted that if there was some way of guaranteeing that nothing would ever come up in the future that would involve this case, then the police reports would have no continuing utility.