PICAYUNE — As of Tuesday, law enforcement incident reports are public record.
House Bill 474 was passed into law by the last regular session of the Mississippi Legislature and took effect on Tuesday. Incident reports as described in the bill include, at a minimum, “the name and identification of each person charged with and arrested for the alleged offense, the time, date and location of the alleged offense, and the property involved,” the bill states.
According to a reading of the bill by 15th Judicial District Attorney Hal Kittrell, the Picayune Police Department has been providing information of this nature for years, and the department has no plans of changing their current practices, Chief Jim Luke said.
“We’re already exceeding what House Bill 474 requires,” said Deputy Chief David Ervin.
Narratives, a detailed explanation of the events leading up to the arrest, will not be considered public record since many times the narratives contain investigative techniques, Ervin said. If information in a narrative becomes available to the public, then that information is released in the form of a department press release.
Incident reports also will be available at the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department and the Poplarville Police Department. It may be a few weeks before the reports are readily available at the Poplarville Police Department since the department is in the process of having new computer software installed to help with the reports, said Chief Charlie Fazende.
“The only reason we’d even withhold any information is simply for the integrity of the investigation,” Fazende said.
For the past several months the department has been revamping its computer system, including installing the software to produce incident reports.
“We’re certainly going to comply with the new law,” Fazende said.
Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Shane Tucker said incident reports became available at their office as of Tuesday.
Public requests can be made by visiting the office believed involved in an arrest.
A spokesman for Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop K, which is the troop that covers Pearl River county and its surrounding counties, was unavailable for comment.
A copy of the bill can be viewed online at http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2008/html/HB/0400-0499/HB0474PS.htm.
Local News
Incident reports are now public record
- Local News
-
-
SAFETY DAY
Picayune Police officers made a visit to the First Baptist Church of Picayune’s preschool class for their Community Helpers Safety Day. During the event the kids got to meet police officers and trigger lights and sirens in patrol vehicles.
- Escapee caught in county Pearl River County Sheriff’s deputies have captured the inmate who escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday after attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
- Council discusses which funds to spend first On the same day as the ground breaking for the addition to the historic City Hall, city council members discussed which funds to spend first in its construction.
-
Poplarville aldermen honor Holliday, get audit report briefing
The city board of aldermen honored former District Three Supervisor Hudson Holliday at its Tuesday night meeting.
Mayor Billy Spiers presented Holliday with a framed resolution of appreciation for his dedication and service to the city while serving as county supervisor.
-
MRI INSTALLED
This $1.2 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment was installed at the new location of Highland Community Hospital.
-
Hall suspected of robbery after escaping
A man who escaped from jail after attending his father’s wake is suspected of having carried out an armed robbery on the Texas-Arkansas state line. Johnny Hall escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday while attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
-
City Hall expansion groundbreaking held
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday at the construction site for the expansion of the historic Picayune City Hall. “You can see our future when you look down Goodyear Boulevard. You see Chimney Square, our high school, The Link at First Baptist Church, Jack Read Park and then our historic City Hall.
-
PRC athletic director says he’ll recommend random drug testing
Pearl River Central athletic director Andy Kivlan told the school board at its Monday night meeting that he will most likely recommend that students participating in extracurricular activities, including band and ROTC, be subject to random drug screening.
-
Supervisors adopt resolution encouraging more economic development in South Miss.
Following a short presentation by State Sen. Tony Smith (R-Picayune), the board of supervisors adopted on Monday a resolution encouraging state officials and agencies to exercise “fairness and parity” regarding location of new industries in Mississippi.
-
MDEQ wants comprehensive waste disposal plan from county
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has told Pearl River County it wants a comprehensive waste disposal plan for the county. Supervisors indicated at their Monday meeting that they are not happy with the request.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Expert: Removing LA School's Staff 'Appropriate'
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
Obama Gives Education Waivers to 10 States
Giffords Aide to Run for Her Seat
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Winter Slamming North Asia, Parts of Europe
Syrian Forces Renew Bombardment of Homs
States, Banks Reach Foreclosure-abuse Settlement
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Raw Video: U.S. Pullout Celebration
Raw Video: Annual Empire State Building Run-Up
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
