CAEGI 0003 November Ads 2022x250

Kenosha County Eye

Kenosha County Eye Settles Public Records Lawsuit With City of Kenosha

Share
Tweet
Kevin Mathewson, Editor, Kenosha County Eye

On April 10, 2023, KCE made a public records request to the Kenosha Police Department. On April 19, 2023, our request was denied by the Department’s Public Information Office. That same day, we filed suit in Kenosha County Circuit Court, because we believed the denial was not lawful.

Paid Advertisement

I immediately made contact with the City’s Attorney, Matt Knight. Knight accepted service on behalf of the City, which saved about $210. In the coming weeks, Knight and Kenosha Police Chief Patrick Patton reviewed the court documents and determined that the denial was not proper and that KCE was entitled to the documents. While the Police Chief was unaware of our request or denial, he said that he takes responsibility for the error as the law enforcement agency’s leader. Patton said he wants the Kenosha Police Department to be as transparent as allowed by law, but wants to make sure victims are protected. He has made good on his promise. Earlier this year, Patton, along with Sheriff Zoerner, agreed to a sweeping change to how it shares its raw law enforcement data with the local media outlets. The data is shared daily with the local media.

The very same day that Judge Bruce Schroeder signed an order approving our agreement with the City, KCE was provided with the documents by the Kenosha Police Department. The agreement also called for the City to pay KCE’s legal expenses of $184.50. Although KCE was also entitled to $100 in damages, we agreed to only accept $1 for a few reasons. First off, this denial was not made with malice, like we’ve seen many times before. The KPD public information office handles many requests and the public records laws and precedents are ambiguous. KCE has had very few issues in the last 11 years with KPD. Also, the City Attorney and Police Chief released the records immediately. They could have fought with us in court for months like Salem Lakes or Kenosha County. They could have let their egos get the better of them. They didn’t. The City taxpayers paid me $184.50 plus $1. In the case of Kenosha County, their legal bill, that the taxpayers will foot, is likely approaching $10,000. All to hide the voice of a former politician, Ted Kmiec.

Paid Advertisement

Thank you to the City of Kenosha Police Chief and City Attorney Matt Knight for wrapping this up quickly. I wish others would learn from you.

Author

  • Kevin Mathewson

    Kevin Mathewson is a disciple of Christ, husband and a father to two wonderful children. Mathewson was born and raised in Lake County, IL and worked as a police & fire dispatcher from 2005 to 2010 in Round Lake Beach, IL. Mathewson moved to Kenosha County in 2006, later being elected to the position of Alderman of the 8th District in 2012 and 2016. Mathewson is a private investigator, security contractor, journalist, and photographer. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, camping and boating. His favorite amendment is the second, followed closely by the first. He loves his country and community.

Share
Tweet
LATEST NEWS

Carthage Students Protest Embattled Carthage President John Swallow’s Handling Of Sexual Assault

A Kenosha man named Cortez L. Newman was recently arrested and charged with second degree seuxal assault. If convicted, he could be sentenced to prison for up to 40 years. According to the criminal complaint, the assault happened on August 20, 2023. Newman is alleged to have raped a woman and the details are so gruesome, that KCE will not be sharing them here. The victim sought medical treatment on September 6, 2023, and had a

Read More »

Feel-Good Friday – A Kenosha Judge Who Shows Kindness Everyday

Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge, The Honorable Anthony Milisauskas graduated from the University of Illinois, Chicago School of Law in 1983, and was admitted into the Wisconsin bar in 1984. Judge Milisauskas was born and raised in Kenosha. Judge Milisauskas opened a law office and worked for himself until 2005. From 2001 to 2005, he was a Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner and a guardian ad litem. He was also a Somers Municipal Judge from 2000-2005.

Read More »
MORE TOP STORIES

County Executive Hires Woman Fired For Fraud, Under Criminal Investigation

County Executive Samantha Kerkman isn’t answering any questions about a very risky hire she made a few months ago – Sherry Kruse. Kruse is the County’s new Veterans Benefits Representative. Before County Executive Samantha Kerkman hired her for the important role, she worked for the Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County as its Assistant Superintendent. According to her personnel file, released by VACLC by means of a F.O.I.A. request, she had been in extremely hot water

Read More »

Kenosha Woman Announces Bid for Mayor

Elizabeth Garcia quipped Kenosha is her hobby, saying “I wish it were my job!” A workingmother who uses her free time towards bettering our city, Garcia has announced her bid forMayor of Kenosha. Enthusiastic and determined Garcia asserts, “ I am solution oriented: when Isee a problem, I try to fix it. If I can’t fix it, I find out who can. I want Kenoshans to know theirtax dollars are being used in meaningful ways; I

Read More »

Kenosha College Student Thanks Lawyer For Her Recent Exoneration For Charges Related To Near-Deadly Crash

On May 19, 2023, Marissa Chon was doing what many college students do on a Friday night – drinking alcohol with friends. She was with her then-boyfriend, Elijah J. Schoffstall, a Carthage soccer player. At about 2:21 am, the two were involved in a serious car wreck at Carthage College, a school where they both attended. Both were severely injured and were lucky to survive. Police and bystanders quickly arrived at the scene of the crash

Read More »

Kenosha Judge Eviscerates First Amendment In Bizarre Ruling – Opinion

Circuit Court Judges like David Wilk (D) can’t change the first amendment, no matter how much they hate it. It’s part of our great Constitution and there are many layers of the judiciary above the circuit coirt that work as checks and balances. That doesn’t mean that they can’t try, however. That’s exactly what David Wilk tried to do in an oral/written ruling from this past Monday. Let’s start with Judge Wilk’s beginning. Wilk attended Hamline

Read More »

Embattled Director Of Women’s Shelter Drops Lawsuit That Was Allegedly Filed Illegally

The embattled director of Women and Children’s Horizons dropped a lawsuit yesterday, two weeks after it was filed, and only 10 days after KCE published an article alleging she was practicing law without a license. According to a 8-count findings document outlining an investigation into misconduct, Paine was disbarred May 20, 2023. The documents says in part, “After proceedings conducted pursuant to [Michigan Supreme Court Rules], the panel found, based on [Paine’s] admissions to all of the

Read More »

Man Who Escaped Kenosha Prison In July Captured In Milwaukee County, Was In Possession of Firearm

On July 26, 2023 a State Prison inmate named Parish Eckford escaped from a Kenosha Prison. This is a State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections Facility and not associated with the Sheriff’s Department jail. Eckford was serving a 16-year prison sentence for the following convictions in Milwaukee Circuit Court: Eckford was scheduled to be released the month he escaped. He previously served 5 years for armed Robbery. The prison, is a minimum security prison that is

Read More »

17 Responses

  1. So it seems Dave Zoerner is following in Dave Beth’s footsteps? Correct me if I’m wrong.

    How is the investigation coming along on how the city was allowed to burn? Zoerner, Nudo?

    The city burning photo on a post card was a great idea to gain public support in separating Dave Zoerner from Dave Beth/ Ray Rowe fag fest.

    Fast forward a year and now we have Ted Kmiec caught with matches in his hand (metaphorically) and he is being protected by the same guy that would have protected the city from burning supposedly.

    This not a good look Mr. Zoerner, Ms. Kerkman, Mr. Nudo. Real leaders do what is right even if it’s not easy and truth will stand on its own. None of you protecting Kmiec and the scum he’s tied to are any better than Bob Wirch when he ran to Illinois to avoid a vote or a piss drunk Dave Beth backing his loader into a girls car at country thunder and then issuing her a citation.

    Where are your oaths? You (3) ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You (3) ran on cleaning up Kenosha and it’s looking like talk is pretty cheap and you are part of the problem rather than the solution.

    Am I missing something that gives good reason to protect this known dirt bag?

    1. Don’t forget Decker. She’s pulling more strings than anyone realizes.

      And, they’re all in bed with Vos, so even though he’s not in a Kenosha district, he’s got to go, and it’s going to be a statewide effort.

    2. Keep a close eye on what Nedweski does. She and Kerkman seem to be fused together, so she’s probably going to become good for nothing, QUICK. If she does, get rid of her before she becomes a perpetual incumbent.

      1. She’s new at this. I hope she stands up for what is right and wrong as strongly as she did about fighting against the mask mandate for schools!

        1. True, she did do that and she is close with Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty that called Kenoshas very own Rachel Levine (Jen Freheit) for trying to shut county schools down. (Talk about putting lipstick on a pig!)

          1. And now she’s in the assembly, which means she’s more likely to fall under Vos’ influence, which will only be bad.

          2. Maybe with her being “close” with Law and Liberty will help her stay in “Check” and she will have some back-up when needed.

  2. Under Davey beth, I couldn’t even get a copy of a police report with my own name on it; was instructed to get an attorney, which was bs.

  3. You are a good example of what we should all be doing when things are happening the right way with our officials. Thank you!

  4. Nice work.
    Kevin,Would love to see your investigative talents holding the politicians in Madison accountable it’s scary, as no one seems to be watching.

  5. Kevin
    Thank you for sharing when Government al agency do sometime right. It was a refreshing story. Also thank you for being a stand up person and taking only a dollar also refreshing.

  6. I don’t know Kevin…. me thinks you were sweating this one a bit – hence the kinds words…. a day is going to come when you lose one these and you end up paying attorney fees….

    1. Nah. You think the City attorney gave me the records and paid my legal fees on a whim? I am now 18 for 18. I agree with you, I have to lose one day. But for a pro se non-attorney like me who only has a high School degree, it would be a very high bar for a judge to order me to pay for a government’s attorney’s fees. Sounds like you might not know how the court system works.

      5
      1

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to updates

Get notified of new articles. We'll never share your email address.