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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

And check out my suggestions for filing FOIA requests for ALPRs (but keep in mind that PA 26-14 may mean some of these tips no longer work): insideinvestigator.org/transparency...

insideinvestigator.org

Transparency Update: Tips for Obtaining ALPR Records

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

In the meantime, read what we've compiled about ALPR use in CT based off of years of FOIA requests: insideinvestigator.org/silent-watch...

insideinvestigator.org

Silent Watchers: The rise of Connecticut's police camera network

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

If a PD cites that exemption when redacting or withholding ALPR records, please reach out to me. I will be submitting requests to monitor how the law changes the availability of ALPR related records.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

We've already been contacted by one individual who was told their request for audit logs was being held up because the PD involved was uncertain about what needed to be redacted with the looming changes from PA 26-14.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Now for my other concern with this ALPR exemption that goes into effect today: the category for data generated by ALPR cameras is broad enough that I fear it will be used to either withhold or severely redact records like audit logs or messages between PDs and ALPR vendors.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Manchester PD revealed more information about how ALPR data is accessed and used in testimony in both FOIC hearings than we would have learned had they just turned over the data. Other types of (previously) non-exempt records also reveal more about how cops use ALPR data.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

People have a right to know what data is being collected and how it is used in police investigations. We have obtained ALPR data from companies besides Flock - it is data. It does not reveal investigatory techniques, as police have claimed in an effort to avoid disclosure.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

For over two years, Inside Investigator has been seeking ALPR data. ALPR cameras (from more companies than Flock) collect a huge amount of data. They were rolled out in many communities without any public notice or input.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm hopeful Manchester PD will be fined for their behavior, which included seeking to delay the case to obtain a safety risk determination the morning of the hearing. But a fine will be purely symbolic - their delay tactics worked.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

I'm not pleased with the FOIC in this case either. The hearing in my expedited appeal was on March 30. There was ample opportunity to issue decision between then and now that would have required the records be released before the October 1 deadline. That did not happen.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Even though they flagrantly ignored a 2025 ruling from the FOIC ordering the disclosure of records created by their ALPR cameras, another finding against Manchester PD is moot because the data I was seeking is now exempt.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Today, many portions of Connecticut's ALPR 'reform' law go into effect - among them a provision exempting ALPR data from FOIA. With it, a pending FOIC complaint I had seeking ALPR data is now effectively dead. The police department involved successfully ran the clock out.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Salazar-Rey has been previously investigated twice for similar behavior. After the second investigation, he was suspended for 15 days without pay and not allowed to teach for a semester.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

A UConn professor with a history of seeking romantic relationships with his students is under investigation for a third time. Text messages Inside Investigator obtained show Ricardo Salazar-Rey saying a student might be his 'soul mate' and expressing a desire to have children with them.

insideinvestigator.org

UConn professor facing third sexual harassment investigation

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Mosaic Theory argues the release of small pieces of information that seem harmless can be pieced together to form a broader picture that threatens security. The FOIC usually rejects arguments that invoke federal FOIA, so it's interesting that is was mentioned here.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

But that led to the FOIC (which found DOC's testimony extremely credible) mentioning release of the video would be a security risk under Mosaic Theory, often applied to the national security exemption of federal FOIA, especially post 9/11.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The crux of the FOIC's argument is that their hands are tied by a prior Superior Court ruling that ordered them to defer to experts like the DOC commissioner in their judgement on what constitutes a security risk.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The FOIC did not order in camera review of the video or consider ordering its release with redactions.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

The FOIC found earlier this week that video depicting the in custody death of J'Allen Jones, which was ruled a homicide, is exempt from FOIA - even though a redacted version of the video has been released through a court order: insideinvestigator.org/foic-jallen-...

insideinvestigator.org

FOIC: J'Allen Jones video exempt from FOIA

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I find it concerning that, after CSCU was found to have unreasonably narrowed our request for sexual misconduct documents and delayed responding to it, they're citing the resignation of a chancellor being investigated for sexual harassment as a reason for the delay.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

But that handbook is still not public. We've asked about its status multiple times and been told it's coming soon. Most recently, we were told CSCU's chancellor upheaval was the reason its release was delayed.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

It's been over a year since CSCU officials said during an FOIC hearing (related to an FOI request Inside Investigator filed seeking docs on sexual misconduct investigations) that they were working on a new FOIA handbook for staff.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

For a second time, the FOIC also rejected OLM's claim that legislative privilege exempts the office (and covers legislative staffers) from having to comply with FOIA requests. insideinvestigator.org/foic-again-f...

insideinvestigator.org

FOIC again finds OLM subject to FOIA

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

ICYMI in this week's FOIA news: The FOIC rebuked former PURA legal director Scott Muska for unreasonably narrowing a search in response to a request from Eversource. insideinvestigator.org/foic-again-f...

insideinvestigator.org

FOIC again finds PURA officials violated FOIA

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Information about ALPR cameras and their use is not easy to obtain, largely by design. But I have some tips for requesting that data through FOIA: insideinvestigator.org/transparency-update-tips-for-obtaining-alpr-records/

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Flock is a hot topic in the news now, but ALPR cameras have been around for decades - with little public input or oversight into their rollout. Check out my deep dive investigation into ALPR cameras in CT: insideinvestigator.org/silent-watch...

insideinvestigator.org

Silent Watchers: The rise of Connecticut's police camera network

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Despite maintaining it has no contract with Flock and has never paid them, a FOIA I submitted revealed thousands of pages of documents that show Hartford PD conversing with the company. Check out this great followup from my colleague Brandon Whiting: insideinvestigator.org/foia-reveals...

insideinvestigator.org

FOIA reveals inconsistencies with Hartford PD's claims about Flock

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

The Department of Social Services told me that, after conversation with the governor's office and "key stakeholders," they decided not to petition U.S. DHHS to allow the state to produce a generic GLP-1, despite a 2025 law requiring them to do so. insideinvestigator.org/as-ct-pursue...

insideinvestigator.org

DSS not seeking petition from HHS on generic GLP-1

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Using less precise language to describe categories of records that likely exist can result in agencies telling you a request is too broad and they don't understand it. But better this scenario and a dialogue with an agency to refine your request language.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

With public agencies that don't want to comply with records requests, it's often a damned if you do/damned if you don't scenario. Using very precise wording allows agencies to play semantics games and deny requests if the wording is not exactly correct.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

In the case of Flock contracts, an example would be "contract, memorandum of understanding, or other form of agreement" between Flock and the police department/agency you're targeting.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

This is also a great reminder when you're drafting FOI language to be extra careful in your wording. Unless you're 100% sure a document exists by name, use a series of synonymous words to describe a document that likely exists.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

We will be following up with Hartford PD, so be sure to follow for more details. And don't miss my deep dive investigation on ALPR use in CT coming out in a few weeks.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

My guess as to why they said they don't have a contract with Flock in January: they have an MOU that is * technically* not a contract or were in a trial period and used that as a basis to say there were no responsive documents to the request.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Among those documents is an invoice from December 2025 for $590,000 sent to Hartford PD's police chief. The documents also show Hartford PD is using Flock cameras, audio detection microphones, and has been looking to implement drones.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

In January, Hartford PD told me (in response to a FOIA request) that they don't have a contract with Flock Safety. I just got almost 2,000 pages of documents in response to a FOIA request for communication between Hartford PD and Flock.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Anyone can file routine FOIA requests for things like municipal financial reporting documents and I have a few tips to help you get started. Chances are, most of the time you won't find anything of note. But documents that help build a picture of how government operates are still a public good.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Clearly, the documents are available through records requests, as they're the underlying source of recent reporting. The scandal highlights the importance of routine records requests in keeping tabs on and uncovering government scandals as they're happening.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Since then, a number of stories detailing additional alleged financial misconduct have emerged. That reporting is a testament to CT journalists and the state's FOI law. But, why are some of these instances of financial misconduct, which date back years, just coming out now?

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Former New Britain mayor Erin Stewart dropped out of the CT governor's race after an independent investigation called P-Card purchasing policies from her time in office into question. insideinvestigator.org/transparency...

insideinvestigator.org

Transparency Update: Stewart scandal shows importance of routine FOI requests

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Reposted by Katherine Revello

MuckRock @muckrock.com · 18/05/2026

Connecticut has some of the lowest FOIA fees in the country, but pending cases could allow for agencies to charge hourly fees. New from @foiakatherine.bsky.social for @insideinvestigator.bsky.social. insideinvestigator.org/priced-out-f...

insideinvestigator.org

Priced Out: FOI requesters sound the alarm as hourly FOIA fees may be coming to Connecticut

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

It's taken Inside Investigator *years* to obtain records about misconduct at public colleges. But through that process, I've learned a lot about what to request through FOIA. If you're interested in obtaining similar records, check out some tips here: insideinvestigator.org/transparency...

insideinvestigator.org

Transparency Update: How to FOI sexual misconduct records

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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Reposted by Katherine Revello

MuckRock @muckrock.com · 11/05/2026

In Virginia, the cost of accessing public records can range from free to tens of thousands of dollars — raising questions about how public that information really is, reports @vcij.bsky.social.

buff.ly

In Virginia, public information has a price

In Virginia, the cost of accessing public records can range from free to tens of thousands of dollars — raising questions about how public that information really is.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

As with Part 1, we found very few cases where employees were fired. Many resigned - in good standing - before investigations were complete. But members of faculty and professional unions were still less likely to be fired than members of service unions.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Thanks to additional records we were *finally* able to obtain, we've now tracked roughly $4 million in ongoing payments (salary and pensions) to employees who violated school conduct policies.

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Katherine Revello @foiakatherine.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Part 2 of our ongoing investigation into how sexual misconduct allegations are investigated and disciplined on college campuses. insideinvestigator.org/patchwork-ho...

insideinvestigator.org

Patchwork: How UConn and CSCU handle sexual misconduct allegations

Read More at Inside Investigator >>

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