Original Article Police stall on records requests By Mike Sakal, Tribune April 9, 2006 A day after the Scottsdale Police Department said reports would be readily available to the public with the help of new computer software, officials announced a 10-day waiting period for records requests. A sign on the window of the departments records office states: Effective immediately, March 20, 2006. Requests for police reports will be mailed or available for pickup after 10 business days. We thank you for your continued patience. Records clerks and Scottsdale police detective Sam Bailey confirmed the new time frame for reports to be released, causing one local private investigator to complain the department is not complying with public records laws. Arizona public records law says that when someone requests a public record, it must be provided promptly. Scottsdale always has been one of the worst in releasing public records, mostly its police department, and theyre getting worse, said private investigator Rich Robertson of Mesa, a former Phoenix newspaper and television reporter. Victims can get police reports quicker without having to pay for them, but a records clerk said if someone is arrested, they cant get their report until they appear in court. For everyone else, Scottsdale charges $5 for each police report, or 25 cents per page after 30 pages, according to the report request form. Reports can be requested in person or through the mail at Scottsdale Police Department Records, 8401 E. Indian School Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251-2855. Bailey said the processing time for records requests allows records supervisors time to omit Social Security numbers, addresses, telephone numbers and names of other people involved in an incident. Our policy was a little lax before on letting people look at the records, Bailey said. Were being a little more careful about what were releasing in reports. As residents requested reports at the police departments records office on Monday, some people were surprised at the new policy. Les Rist of north Scottsdale requested reports on Monday from a vehicle collision on Jan. 30. He said he was rear-ended, but was also being cited in connection with hitting the car in front of him. Rist was told by the clerk he would have to wait 10 days for the reports. I think its terrible, Rist said of the wait. Ridiculous. My insurance company said they had requested the reports (of the accident) from the police department, but havent received them yet. I thought I would come down and pick them up and send them to the insurance company myself, but I cant yet. However, Jason Richburg of Chandler, the general manager of Bandera restaurant in downtown Scottsdale, received quick service when he requested reports on Monday from a kitchen fire at the restaurant last month. Richburg received the reports almost immediately upon request. I would be upset if I had to wait 10 days for a report, Richburg said. I dont know about other people. I guess they have to wait longer. . . . Contact Mike Sakal by telephone at (480) 970-2324.