Public Records

Tacoma Police Department violated Public Records Act, failed to disclose information on invasive surveillance technology

The Washington Supreme Court ruled that state legislators’ offices are subject to the state’s Public Records Act general public records disclosure mandate. 

Finding that Tacoma Police Department (TPD) deliberately withheld public records on its use of an invasive cell phone surveillance device, a judge in Pierce County ordered the City of Tacoma to pay fines, costs and fees in an amount she said is “necessary to deter future misconduct.”