"The legal dispute centers on a public records request filed in April 2023 by journalist Cerise Castle. Castle asked county officials to release the names and official headshots of all deputies not working undercover, then sued last summer after her request was denied, alleging a violation of California's open records law. For the record: An earlier version of this article said the L.A. County Sheriff's Department is withholding the names and photos of deputies. It also said Cerise Castle is an independent journalist."
"The department released the deputy names to Castle but has maintained in court filings that the images are not public records and that they "do not substantially relate to the conduct of the public's business." L.A. County Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant rejected the county's position, writing in a July decision that its lawyers are "confusing the public's general lack of access ... with whether official photographs are a public record.""
Los Angeles County is blocking release of photographs for about 8,500 sheriff's deputies and sworn personnel after a public records request filed in April 2023. The requester sought names and official headshots of non-undercover deputies; names were released but photos were denied. The county argues the images are not public records and raises concerns about deputies' privacy, personal safety, and effectiveness. A Superior Court judge ordered release, finding official photographs qualify as public records and criticized the county's position. The county appealed the decision; a three-judge panel is considering whether to take the case.
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