COMPARING POLICE TRANSPARENCY Sandy Springs vs. Fulton County

Sandy Springs

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2022

2018

After learning about an arrest made for homicide Feb. 26, Appen Media requested warrants and supporting documents from the City of Sandy Springs. Above is the only material the city made available, and officials told the news organization they believe warrants are not subject to public inspection.

Appen Media receives warrants and arrest information from every surrounding jurisdiction it covers. The position of Sandy Springs is in direct contradiction with guidance from the Attorney General, Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Sheriff’s Association, Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia and Georgia Press Association.

Fulton County

When Appen Media made the same request to Fulton County, its records officers provided 25 pages of documents, including the arrest warrants and over 1,000 words of narrative case information. Without those county officials, Appen Media would have been unable to report on an alleged murder in Sandy Springs. Appen Media will continue pursuing the release of documents that belong to the public in order to inform residents how safe – or unsafe – the city is keeping it.