From the editor’s desk: Still waiting

Sarah Nigbor

I used to be a giant procrastinator. Sometimes I still am, but I promise it’s not because I want to be. It’s because there are only so many hours in a day, week, month, etc. My daily planner looks like a battle plan, with lines and bullet points and highlights. I like crossing items off with my pen; it’s more satisfying than Google calendar. In college, I was very naughty and put off a French history paper until the day before. I had to write 25 pages on Charlemagne in one night; that was something I never want to experience again. But hey, I got an A and I think it was a precursor to newspaper deadline day.

My favorite is when my kids (or husband) tells me conveniently at 10:30 p.m. that they need a certain clothing item washed for the next morning (now they’re told to do it themselves) OR that they have to bake/cook something for a class. This is how Ethan and I stayed up late one night making some God-awful Estonian cornmeal porridge concoction for a foods class. Too bad it wasn’t something delicious to soften the blow. It tasted like cardboard.

One thing I haven’t procrastinated on is a public records request to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office/Pierce County concerning staffing issues that have rumors circulating in the county. My goal when submitting the request June 12 was to give the county ample time to fulfill the request, ask questions if they needed me to clarify anything, etc. so I could have interviews and articles completed before the Aug. 11 primary election, in which incumbent Chad Koranda and Sgt. Mike McFadden are running as Republicans for the sheriff’s position.

I want to make clear that the county has always provided me with information when I ask for it in the past. It was my hope that I would receive the information in time to address questions people have brought to my attention.

I realized this request would take time, and I heard back from County Administrator Jason Matthys on June 23 that he was going to be out of the office the next week, and would work on the request when he returned. Matthys also sent an email July 16 apologizing that it was taking so long since “some of the requested information is currently under legal review which is the cause for the delay.” That is understandable too, but I’m disappointed. I have yet to hear when to expect the information.

This column is not meant to rile up anyone: I’ve just had a lot of people ask me about it and I want to be transparent. In fact, here is my request that I submitted, listed below.

Under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of public records and/or be provided information that explains the following:

1. Any and all records of formal reprimands, investigations into misconduct (specifically to falsifying timecards), final termination orders, or notices of suspension regarding DARE Officer Brette Huppert during her tenure with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. I would also like the following questions answered:
   1. The date Brette Huppert was fired and who made the decision.
   2. The date the investigation into timecard discrepancies began and ended and the findings (how many hours did she claim she worked that she didn’t? How much money was she paid for working when she wasn’t? Who conducted the investigation?)
   3. How was this issue discovered?
   4. Did she face any disciplinary actions prior to being fired?
   5. What was her annual salary as DARE officer?
   6. How were her hours tracked?
   7. A job description/list of duties/expectations for the DARE officer position.
   8. What is being done to fill the DARE officer position and how might duties/expectations change?
2. A list of Pierce County Sheriff’s Office employees who have either resigned or been let go from Jan. 1, 2023-present, including their years of tenure with PCSO and reason for their departure.
3. A list of all salaries for Pierce County Sheriff’s Office employees/patrol deputies/special positions/jail staff
4. Amount of overtime paid/number of overtime hours worked by Pierce County Sheriff’s Office employees, broken down by year, from Jan. 1, 2023 to present.
5. Number of patrol deputies on the road per shift vs. the number there should be to adequately serve/protect residents per county policy

If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the cost will exceed $25.  However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees in that the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of how public tax dollars are spent and how public employees are held accountable. As a member of the press, I believe this information will shed light on the county’s practices and use of public funds. This information is not being sought for commercial purposes.

I would request a response by email, within the 5 days described by law, if you intend to deny this request. Also, if you expect a significant delay in fulfilling this request, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Thank you for considering my request.

The items in this request were gleaned from conversations with community members, current and former PCSO employees and people emailing me with questions they would like answered.

Another goal of requesting this information is to shed light on how hard PCSO employees have been working while short-staffed, covering for coworkers, helping out where needed, working overtime, to make sure the citizens are protected. You give up so much to keep citizens safe. You are all very much appreciated.