Freedom of Information Commission Orders Release of Dash Cams showing Sandy Hook Evacuation.
"I think the unspoken bottom line is CSP's desire to prevent harm to Newtown families by releasing more Sandy Hook related documents is in direct conflict with Connecticut's extensive freedom of information laws." - Sandy Hook Facts
In an appeal brought by the leader of the Sandy Hook hoaxer conspiracy theorists, Wolfgang Halbig, Connecticut's Freedom of Information Commission has ordered Connecticut State Police (Dept. of Emergency Services) to release Dash Cam videos from the patrol cars assigned to Newtown Officers Seabrook, Lt. Sinko, Chapman, and Sgt. Bahamonde from 12-14-12, the date of the elementary school massacre. CSP had seized copies of those videos as part of their Sandy Hook Investigation. The "original" videos are digital and still in the possession of Newtown.
Mert Melfa covered the hearing:
https://youtu.be/OzCAgaG95dc
CSP refused to release the Seabrook and Sinko DVDs even though those videos were already released via Newtown FOI Request and are publicly available.
The Chapman and Bahamonde videos have not been released to the public and have only been viewed publicly by a few select members of the press. Those two videos, if released unredacted, show extensive evacuation of children from the north east corner of the school. Most children were evacuated from the north east exit.
Newtown had refused to release the Bahamonde and Chapman videos to Sandy Hook Facts claiming a "minor's identity" exemption to the FOIA Law. Interestingly, CSP did not attempt to argue that exemption applied versus Halbig.
Sandy Hook Facts will be seeking to obtain the dash cams from CSP if they are released to Halbig.
Wolfgang Halbig also sought the sworn statements of several Newtown officers. Release of Newtown Police statements was denied based on Connecticut's "witness exemption" the FOIA law.
After Sandy Hook, Newtown Officers gave witness statements to Connecticut State Police Investigators. Summaries of these statements were released in the final report. Frankly, it seems kind of a stretch to apply a "witness statement exemption" to officer statements. Taking that argument to it's logical conclusion, anytime Connecticut would want to keep an officer statement from public release, they could simply have CSP Investigators take the statement and instant exemption! That is somewhat of a stretch of transparency and public policy for public officials. Halbig could appeal that ruling.
After Sandy Hook, Newtown Officers gave witness statements to Connecticut State Police Investigators. Summaries of these statements were released in the final report. Frankly, it seems kind of a stretch to apply a "witness statement exemption" to officer statements. Taking that argument to it's logical conclusion, anytime Connecticut would want to keep an officer statement from public release, they could simply have CSP Investigators take the statement and instant exemption! That is somewhat of a stretch of transparency and public policy for public officials. Halbig could appeal that ruling.
A couple of fly's in Halbig's victory soup.
CSP will likely appeal. CSP claimed the ruling in Altimari concerning property seized from Lanza's home somehow applies to police dash cams. The Commission did not buy off on that argument and it is doubtful that argument would prevail in court as it is absurd and again defeats public policy on transparency in releasing police Dash Cams. Frankly, the courts have consistently ordered police videos released and I don't think the courts are going to change course here bases on CSP's weak arguments.
It is conceivable Newtown could intervene on behalf of their town minors and potentially move to block the release on that basis. Unfortunately, Newtown seems paralyzed when it comes to filings to protect Newtown's children from hoaxers. Let us hope that changes soon.
CSP could possibly heavily redact and obscure the Dash Cams on their own prior to their release, as they did with the dash cams released with the Sandy Hook Final Report. CSP released three of their several dash cams in December 2013. All 3 downloadable dash cam videos were heavily redacted and provided in horrible quality.
If the videos are actually released, the Bahamonde and Chapman videos could silence a few Sandy Hook conspiracy theorists who say there was no evacuation that day.
No Halbig circus this time
As to the hearing itself, Kay Wilson appeared for Halbig. Halbig did not appear thus sparing us the unprofessional "Bad monkey in the zoo" sideshow he typically puts on. We had no children or families intimidated; we had no outbursts; no tantrums; no running around in circles. No rubber duck nonsense or blowing his nose on Sandy Hook type shirts. No reports of filming of children at elementary schools. Without Halbig's incessant tantrums and childish interruptions, Kay Wilson was actually able to present a lucid, intelligent, and well thought out argument. I actually agreed with most of her arguments.
