I filed a complaint when a fireman would not let me access a paramedic. Now, because the complaint is an internal one, I can’t see what the reply was. I suspect some inaccuracies but don’t know how to get the report short of hiring an attorney.
You probably can’t get the report even if you hire an attorney. In almost all jurisdictions, complaints against police and firefighters are confidential, and may not be disclosed even pursuant to a "sunshine law" — sunshine laws almost always have an exception for personnel matters. The stated reason is to protect the individual’s privacy and also to prevent publication of allegations that might be false and maliciously motivated. About the only way you will be able to get a copy of the report is if you sue the firefighter. If you do that, you might be able to get the report pursuant to a discovery request. Even then, you will probably be subject to a protective order preventing you from disclosing the contents.
December 16th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
You probably can’t get the report even if you hire an attorney. In almost all jurisdictions, complaints against police and firefighters are confidential, and may not be disclosed even pursuant to a "sunshine law" — sunshine laws almost always have an exception for personnel matters. The stated reason is to protect the individual’s privacy and also to prevent publication of allegations that might be false and maliciously motivated. About the only way you will be able to get a copy of the report is if you sue the firefighter. If you do that, you might be able to get the report pursuant to a discovery request. Even then, you will probably be subject to a protective order preventing you from disclosing the contents.
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