Brent Waak, Sheriff at Polk County | https://www.polkcountywi.gov/
Brent Waak, Sheriff at Polk County | https://www.polkcountywi.gov/
FOIA Request to Polk County Sheriff's Department regarding 2023 arrest records on September 24, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Polk County Sheriff's Department in Wisconsin on September 24, 2025. The request, sent by a news reporter from The Sconi, seeks comprehensive arrest records for the entire year of 2023. The request is made under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, §19.31 et seq., and asks for the information to be provided in an electronic format.
The specific data points requested include the name, sex, race, age, date of birth, and citizenship status of each arrestee. Additionally, the request seeks booking IDs, dates of arrest, booking photos, names of arresting officers, types and locations of crimes committed, as well as dates of these crimes.
The Sconi emphasizes its role in gathering and reporting news to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. They also mention their eligibility for a fee waiver due to their status as a media organization. Furthermore, they highlight their affiliation with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA requests.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
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