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Rockford Police Union Wins Lawsuit Against City

By Bob Schaper

ROCKFORD - Rockford's police union wins a lawsuit against Chief Chet Epperson and the city in a case involving an opinion survey Epperson ordered in 2007.

The case started when the union wanted the results of a three-part survey done by Rockford College students. The city said no, claiming the survey wasn't covered by the state's Freedom of Information Act. That, in turn, triggered a lawsuit that was finally decided last Monday by Judge Ron Pirrello against the chief.

Epperson's idea was supposed to be simple: ask cops, civilian workers and a handful of residents what they think about the Rockford Police Department and him. But like most things Epperson's tried since becoming chief in April 2006, the survey soon became a lightning rod for controversy.

"The city needs to realize that when they have documents under their control, that there are certain ones they have to provide for the public," says Doug Block, a labor representative for the police union. "The survey was supposed to be used for the department to see what our faults were and try to improve on those, and also to see what our good points were."

City Legal Director Patrick Hayes defends the city's actions. He says Epperson is only trying to improve the department and shouldn't have to turn over embarrassing survey results.

But David Taylor, a law professor at Northern Illinois University, says the Freedom of Information Act is important to taxpayers. "It's another element of the same concept, of making the workings of tax-supported agencies open and available to the people that are paying the taxes," he says.

Meanwhile, Pirrello is expected to sign an order this week forcing the city to turn over the documents. However, the city could appeal his decision, which means the results would stay sealed for what could be months or longer.