Park Forest, IL—(ENEWSPF)— From time to time, I get requests from people asking that their names be removed from our police reports. I have reported on crime in our town since 2007, and have read virtually every report since January of that year. I make a point of publishing booking photos of anyone the police charge with DUI.
This afternoon, a young person who was charged with DUI in July 2021 wrote. According to police, her BAC was more than twice the legal limit. As part of her request, she wrote, “The article has caused ongoing harm to my personal and professional life, and I believe it no longer serves the public interest. Additionally, the information contained is outdated and violates my privacy.
“I kindly ask that you review this request in accordance with your editorial policies and applicable privacy or defamation laws. I am happy to provide any documentation or further clarification needed to support this request.”
My response was to suggest that the harm to her “personal and professional life” was not the article, but the arrest itself. When I receive such requests involving DUIs, I inform them about Justin Young. As I write this, the tears come again.
My response below, which included Justin’s smiling picture
Attached is the report from which I drew the report in the story you cite. The article is accurate as it reflects what the arresting officer noted on [the date of your arrest]. The account does not violate your privacy, as the entire incident is a matter of public record. According to police, your BrAC was [more than .20] that night, more than twice the legal limit. I am incredibly grateful that you only suffered an arrest that night. It is a blessing that there was no accident that could have harmed you or someone else. That is an incredible.
Per our policy, I will update the article to reflect the disposition of your case if you provide documentation that shows this disposition. ‘Our policy is that we will only add information relevant to the final disposition of the case at hand, e.g., “Mr. Smith was subsequently acquitted,” “Mr. Smith entered a guilty plea,” or “All charges against Mr. Smith were subsequently dropped.” We will do so upon receiving and verifying proof of such disposition.’
I did edit your street address at the time to only include the block where you lived, however. Further consideration of edits will depend on what you can provide regarding the final disposition of your case.
A Somber Chord
DUI arrests strike a somber chord with me. I only request and publish booking photos of DUI arrests. The exception is if the officers release booking photos to the public in press releases or on social media.
Most of us know or know of someone killed by a drunk driver. A high school senior was the most recent for me. We were teaching hybrid classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Justin Young was 18 and just coming into his own. He dropped his cousin off at his house and was driving home on Governors Highway when a drunk driver struck his vehicle head-on. Both the driver and Justin died instantly. He was a wonderful young man. While other students remained home and attended classes via Zoom, as was their right, Justin preferred to attend school in person. He died roughly four months before your arrest.
He remains relevant to those of us who knew him, and his story certainly serves the public interest. I could only bring myself to write about him two years after he passed. Police Reports: Remembering Justin & Grateful for No DUIs in the First Week of July. I also mentioned him here (another link).
Peace to you.
Respectfully,
Gary Kopycinski (he/him)
Editor and Publisher
eNews Park Forest
ENEWSPF
