NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Mayor Jon Richardson addressed the situation with former police chief Jeff Hooper at Tuesday's City Council meeting.
"I've had a number of phone calls," Richardson said. "I've had some people reach out to me citing the Freedom of Information Act. That doesn't apply here. That's a federal issue, or using the Kansas Open Records Act. There are exceptions in the Kansas Open Records Act in regard to privacy. We want to be transparent. We also have a responsibility to protect the privacy of those who are employed or have been employed by the city."
Hutch Post is one of the entities seeking additional information regarding the chief's termination through the Kansas Open Records Act. Our formal request was filed via an email to city staff this past Friday.
"It's an unfortunate situation," Richardson said. "I would ask that people in our community that are on one side of it, that it is not something to be relished, when someone's employment is ended. On the other side of things, I would mention, don't feed into conspiracy theories. Nothing big has to happen for someone to be let go. There are multiple reasons. It doesn't have to be one big item. That's all I'm going to say about that. I just ask that you respect that all of us were involved in the decision in one way or another. There are reasons for things happening and it is not an easy decision. It is not something that we look forward to, but it is something that we decided on."
Government agencies have 72 hours from the receipt of a Kansas Open Records Act request to respond to that request. Any citizen can make such a request, it is not limited to journalists.
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