Lang
9/29/23
A popular social media feed and a key news source face uncertain futures after the Iowa City Police Department began censoring its online Daily Activity Log.
For the last 20+ years, the online activity log has documented every call for service received by the ICPD. Many calls included background information about the call. That information has been used by both the popular “Iowa City Police Log” social media accounts and by KCJJ for both news stories and the regular “Police Reports” segment.
Early Friday morning the ICPD removed the details from calls, retroactive to August 30th. When asked for comment, ICPD Public Safety Officer Lee Hermiston told KCJJ, “Because we have had issues with confidential information making it into the public log, we are only releasing the public details as required, which are time, place, and type of call.”
In reviewing calls over the last 20 years, KCJJ can confirm very few added details have ever included a caller or suspect’s name and/or telephone number.
KCJJ owner Steve Soboroff issued the following statement: “The police in many cities and towns are coming under fire every day. Due to the transparency of law enforcement in this community, we have a force we can place our trust in. We would hate to see that change, and for the public to lose its right to know what is happening in the community as it involves its police force.”
As of Friday night, the ICPD had not responded to KCJJ’s request to have the calls sent privately via email or allow them to be picked up at the police station by KCJJ staff.