Friendswood Police Dept. emails leaked

[Heartland Patriot]

Some are, some aren't, but the way to get them is by way of an Open Records Request; not by hacking into the computer system.

I agree with you that is the best way.

Let me ask you, however. If an open records request was made, just how many of those emails would have actually seen the light of day?

I promise I'm not attacking you, just wondering if you have ever vented to one of your buddies via email? If you haven't, I guess you are really good at managing stress. But if so, should YOUR emails be public knowledge? Yeah, I know you are going to say that they were on a "government system" (which shouldn't have been hacked in the first place, its a bunch of punks doing this stuff for political reasons)...but I would wager the bulk of the emails weren't "official", just correspondence between two officers...people cannot live their entire lives under a microscope...not saying folks in power should get away with doing dirty dealings, but there has to be SOME sort of a line...

[Jumping Frog]

I promise I'm not attacking you, just wondering if you have ever vented to one of your buddies via email? If you haven't, I guess you are really good at managing stress. But if so, should YOUR emails be public knowledge?

I have had numerous occasions in my career where I had been involved in litigation and had my emails and reports subject to discovery. I've also had to appear at depositions to discuss emails I had sent 2 or 3 years previously.

Therefore, I make a point to operate under the assumption that every email I ever write in the workplace could end up being public and conduct myself accordingly. I've also had cases where I became aware of some substantial business litigation risk where I didn't put it into an email at all. I picked up the telephone and discussed it verbally. In other cases, I would write a memo that I addressed to corporate counsel to keep it out of discovery.

So, to make a long story short, no. I have zero sympathy for the police chief venting in email. He is a public servant and his email are public records. He should know better.

Now, that all said, if I run across a funny joke or something that would be inadmissible in a work context, that is my personal business. I've certainly vented in private using a private email address, but I am even careful about doing something like that using the network at work.

[Heartland Patriot]

I promise I'm not attacking you, just wondering if you have ever vented to one of your buddies via email? If you haven't, I guess you are really good at managing stress. But if so, should YOUR emails be public knowledge?

I have had numerous occasions in my career where I had been involved in litigation and had my emails and reports subject to discovery. I've also had to appear at depositions to discuss emails I had sent 2 or 3 years previously.

Therefore, I make a point to operate under the assumption that every email I ever write in the workplace could end up being public and conduct myself accordingly. I've also had cases where I became aware of some substantial business litigation risk where I didn't put it into an email at all. I picked up the telephone and discussed it verbally. In other cases, I would write a memo that I addressed to corporate counsel to keep it out of discovery.

So, to make a long story short, no. I have zero sympathy for the police chief venting in email. He is a public servant and his email are public records. He should know better.

Now, that all said, if I run across a funny joke or something that would be inadmissible in a work context, that is my personal business. I've certainly vented in private using a private email address, but I am even careful about doing something like that using the network at work.

Many of the other senior NCOs I served with, upon military "retirement", wanted some sort of white-collar job in a nice office somewhere...me, I'd rather bust my knuckles as a mechanic until they carry me out in a pine box, just so I don't have to worry about all that sort of stuff...email me schedules, training, etc...but otherwise, I'd rather not even use it. More hassle than its worth, it seems.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Some are, some aren't, but the way to get them is by way of an Open Records Request; not by hacking into the computer system.

I agree with you that is the best way.

Let me ask you, however. If an open records request was made, just how many of those emails would have actually seen the light of day?

I don't know; perhaps all, perhaps none. The only way to know is send an ORR.

Chas.

[Charles L. Cotton]

So, to make a long story short, no. I have zero sympathy for the police chief venting in email. He is a public servant and his email are public records. He should know better.

Show us the statute that supports this.

Chas.

[GrillKing]

So, to make a long story short, no. I have zero sympathy for the police chief venting in email. He is a public servant and his email are public records. He should know better.

Show us the statute that supports this.

Chas.

I am not a lawyer, but I do work for a State agency and deal with ORRs on a regular basis. If these emails were on a government system they absolutely are government records. Some records must be released w/o review. Some records cannot be released. Most records must be released but the agency can request a review by the OAG. If this request to the OAG is not made in a timely fashion the record must be released. The OAG can determine whether the record must be released, released in redacted form or not released. I suspect these are releasable if on a government email system.

Even releasable documents can contain automatic redaction of certain things - names of non involved parties, ss#'s, addresses, etc.

The fact that it is electronic (email) does not negate the fact that it is a government recd. I can't disclose my agency, but I can tell you that they take this seriously and comply to the letter and intent of the law.

Good advice was previously given, if you email it, there is a chance you and the recipients won't be the only ones to see it....

OAG opinion: https://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/og_faqs.shtml

[GrillKing]

As an fyi, if this request came to me it would receive legal review. There is a fine
line between personal notes that may or may not be releasable
and notes which may appear personal but reference or may otherwise involve govt business and would be releasable. In summary, with some exceptions and requirements for redaction, if it involves govt business and is a got record, it is releasable.

[Jumping Frog]

So, to make a long story short, no. I have zero sympathy for the police chief venting in email. He is a public servant and his email are public records. He should know better.

I've had second thoughts about this statement, as it is too harsh.

I do have sympathy for a man who gets caught in a situation where he faces public embarrassment and criticism, with the possible loss of his job. More accurately, I think my position is that such a man should have known better.

[Beiruty]

That PD boss, should resign or get fired. Period.

[tbrown]

What goes around comes around. viewtopic.php?f=15&t=48147" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm confused... What does a border patrol checkpoint search have to do with hacking the Friendswood police emails?

I'm sure the hacker had reasonable suspicion for her warrantless search too.

[Charles L. Cotton]

So, to make a long story short, no. I have zero sympathy for the police chief venting in email. He is a public servant and his email are public records. He should know better.

Show us the statute that supports this.

Chas.

I am not a lawyer, but I do work for a State agency and deal with ORRs on a regular basis. If these emails were on a government system they absolutely are government records. Some records must be released w/o review. Some records cannot be released. Most records must be released but the agency can request a review by the OAG. If this request to the OAG is not made in a timely fashion the record must be released. The OAG can determine whether the record must be released, released in redacted form or not released. I suspect these are releasable if on a government email system.

Even releasable documents can contain automatic redaction of certain things - names of non involved parties, ss#'s, addresses, etc.

The fact that it is electronic (email) does not negate the fact that it is a government recd. I can't disclose my agency, but I can tell you that they take this seriously and comply to the letter and intent of the law.

Good advice was previously given, if you email it, there is a chance you and the recipients won't be the only ones to see it....

OAG opinion: https://www.oag.state.tx.us/open/og_faqs.shtml

I know all this; I use ORR rather extensively. My question to Jumping Frog is to show me the statue to support his claim that all of the Chief's emails are public record.

Chas.

[Beiruty]

Public defenders would start suing and filing appeals claiming bias, bigotry and racism against that PD, wherever religion or color was a factor.

[Charles L. Cotton]

That PD boss, should resign or get fired. Period.

You condemn the Chief, but not the criminal who hacked numerous law enforcement servers. Interesting.

Chas.

[GrillKing]

Moved comment to more appropriate place

[Beiruty]

That PD boss, should resign or get fired. Period.

You condemn the Chief, but not the criminal who hacked numerous law enforcement servers. Interesting.

Chas.

I did not address the hackers, whom when they are caught would be charged and tried as usual. However, If the allegations of leaked emails are true, where is the credibility of that PD? why no special prosecutor or FBI investigates what is going on? BTW, that PD boss is claiming he is victim. would such leak pushed under the rug?