The time to provide the records was months ago — Kathi Bearden, president, FOG board of directors

 

 

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government (FOG) and The Santa Fe New Mexican on Monday filed a complaint against the City of Rio Rancho in 13th Judicial District Court.

The complaint filed to enforce the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) alleges that the City of Rio Rancho wrongfully shielded from public view police reports and 911 audio and transcripts stemming from the shooting death of 2-year-old Lincoln Harmon, son of Santa Fe police officer Jonathan Harmon, in his Rio Rancho home last December.

In response to requests made by The Santa Fe New Mexican, FOG and other news organizations, Rio Rancho City Attorney Greg Lauer issued what constituted to a blanket denial of the records, citing the Children’s Code, a section of law designed to keep confidential certain information held by the Children, Youth and Families Department.

Last week, an IPRA determination letter issued by the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General stated the records were improperly denied and should be released. Lauer, in an email, refused to consider making the records public and insisted a new request be filed in the matter.

A spokesperson for Rio Rancho later suggested records may potentially be made available.

After submitting a second request, FOG received a response from the city that extra time would be required to respond to the request. The Santa Fe New Mexican had originally requested records on Dec. 13, 2021, and FOG submitted a mirror IPRA on Jan. 14, 2022.

“FOG appreciates Attorney General (Hector) Balderas taking decisive action in this matter, and we’re glad he contends, as does FOG, that the records never should have been kept secret in this case,” said Kathi Bearden, president of the FOG board of directors.

“Rio Rancho should have handed over records immediately after receiving the letter,” Bearden said. “The time to provide the records was months ago.”

City of Rio Rancho spokeswoman Annemarie Garcia said the city doesn’t comment on pending litigation.

The legal complaint FOG filed today states: “The asserted justification for wholesale denial of the records requests at issue here was plainly erroneous as a matter of law. Should it go uncorrected by a court in this widely publicized case, it threatens to curtain from public view vast swaths of previously public information at the intersection of public safety and child welfare.”

In fact, in many other high-profile tragic child death cases, records were routinely released.

The complaint notes, “… the shocking deaths of Omaree Varela, Victoria Martens, Jeremiah Valencia, and other children at the hands of their parents or their parents’ associates have shone a spotlight on the ways in which police departments and child welfare agencies have failed to protect New Mexico’s most precious resource. We know about them because law enforcement officials have responsibly released investigative reports, lapel-camera video, and other information…”

Shannon Kunkel

FOG’s executive director, Shannon Kunkel, said it is disappointing that the city will not voluntarily comply with the law.

“In instances like these, where government agencies dig in their heels and refuse to obey the law, filing in court is the best recourse,” she said.

FOG elected to file suit upon the unanimous consent of its 27-member board of directors, following the recommendation of its legal panel, comprised of pro-bono attorneys, and its executive committee.

Co-plaintiffs The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government and The Santa Fe New Mexican are represented by Charles “Kip” Purcell of Rodey, Dickason, Sloan, Akin & Robb, P. A., an Albuquerque-based law firm. Purcell also serves on the FOG board of directors as a member of its executive committee.