Iowa Supreme Court · No. 24-0373
Harvey L. Harrison v. Lisa Mickey, in her official capacity as Open Records Coordinator and City of Des Moines, IA
Decided March 14, 2025 · appeal from Polk County · Government
What the court decided
AI summary A citizen sued to obtain copies of all use-of-force reports written by police officers during a specific year. The city argued that these reports were exempt from public disclosure laws. The court upheld a ruling that requires the city to provide the requested reports to the citizen.1
Result: Affirmed
The court’s own summary
The defendants appeal from a summary judgment ruling ordering them to comply with the requirements of Iowa Code chapter 22 by providing the plaintiff with a copy of all use-of-force reports authored by officers of the Des Moines Police Department in calendar year 2020. The defendants contend the reports are exempt from production under Iowa Code section 22.7 and Iowa Code section 80F.1.
Holding: A city appeals the district court’s grant of summary judgment in an action brought by a citizen seeking access to police use of force reports under the Iowa Open Records Act. Affirmed.
Judges
- Written by Justice Edward M. Mansfield
- Trial judge: Coleman J. McAllister, Polk County
Iowa Code it cites
§020.5§22.1§22.10§22.7§80F.1§80G.2
Each links to the bills that change that chapter.