The publisher of the city's community newspaper charged Thursday that local police have refused to turn over police reports and other public information to his publication - most likely because some in the police hierarchy didn't like recent articles in the newspaper.
Dick Stucki, editor of the Sentinel, said he and members of his three-person staff have been stymied in recent efforts to access routine public documents. Also, telephone calls made to police officials about various matters are generally not returned, he said."It's been frustrating the last few months to get information," Stucki said.
The state Government Records Access Management Act requires police and other public entities to release many types of routine information if requested to do so by any member of the public.
Sgt. Beau Babka, spokesman for the South Salt Lake police, said he was unaware of any problems the Sentinel might be having in getting information from the police department.
"Sorry, I don't know what the problem is, but I'll do what what I can to rectify the problem," Babka said. "I have always had a good relationship with Mr. Stucki."
Stucki said the controversy comes at a particularly delicate time for the 7,000-circulation monthly newspaper. A large portion of the community newspaper's budget is derived from South Salt Lake government, which pays the publication $900 per month to publish a "city newsletter" in the Sentinel.
The newsletter is written by city personnel and informs local residents of actions taken by city government, upcoming city events or other information the city feels is important.
Stucki said negotiations concerning the city newsletter's future are in progress with city officials.
"It's been formally stated I don't tell them what to put in their part and they don't tell me what to put in my part (of the newspaper)," he said.
The Sentinel is a nonprofit newspaper that is distributed to about 45 locations around the city. Stucki, a longtime area journalist, has published the monthly since 1993.