WTLV First Coast News by Anne Schindler

July 20, 2017

Local attorney John Philips created a viral controversy when he publicized the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office response to his wide-ranging public records request. The $314,000 price tag for records on troubled cop Tim James ignited a social media firestorm.

But the story was just one of several headlines concerning local law enforcement compliance with public records laws.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams held a hastily scheduled press conference late in the day Wednesday to try to explain the exorbitant public records estimate.

He suggested the initial estimate wasn’t meant to be taken seriously.

“We expect him to come back and say, that’s crazy. “Williams described the estimate as a conversation starter – a way to get a requester to narrow and refine a request,” he said.

But cost isn’t the only barrier. JSO’s failure to provide public records also resulted in a mistrial Wednesday. [READ MORE]