Eugene, Oregon Demands $2.5M for Public Records on Cop Misconduct, Local Outlet Says

Eugene, Oregon, has informed local news outlet Double Sided Media that fulfilling its public records request concerning a police officer accused of misconduct would cost approximately $2.5 million, according to a report by Lauren Harper of The Intercept. The request, filed under Oregon's public records law, sought documents related to the officer's conduct, but the city's prohibitive fee estimate effectively prevents the outlet from accessing the material.

The $2.5 million price tag is far beyond the typical cost of processing public records requests, which often involve staff time for redaction and review. Double Sided Media, a small independent publication, is unlikely to afford such a sum, raising questions about whether the fee is being used to shield the police department from scrutiny. The Intercept's report highlights a growing trend of cash-strapped local governments imposing exorbitant fees to deter transparency requests, particularly those involving law enforcement misconduct.

The move has drawn criticism from press freedom advocates, who argue that such fees violate the spirit of public records laws designed to hold government accountable. If upheld, the fee could set a precedent for other agencies to block similar requests. Double Sided Media has not indicated whether it will challenge the fee in court, but the case underscores the broader struggle of local news outlets to perform watchdog journalism in the face of financial and bureaucratic hurdles.