Great Lakes Wire

FOIA Request to Chippewa County Sheriff Department regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.

A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Chippewa County Sheriff Department by Great Lakes Wire, a media organization focused on local governmental affairs. The request seeks access to all arrest records from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. The requested data points include the arrestee's name, sex, race, age, date of birth, and citizenship status. Additionally, information such as booking ID, date of arrest, booking photo, names of arresting officers, type and location of crime, and date of crime are also sought.

The request emphasizes the importance of these records for media professionals in fulfilling their role in holding public institutions accountable and ensuring transparency. The requester has also asked for a fee waiver based on their position within the media industry.

Great Lakes Wire is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that aids news media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found at https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.

We look forward to receiving this information in an electronic format as it will greatly aid in our reporting efforts. As always, we remain open for any questions or clarifications regarding this request.