When Thadeus Greenson first started investigating a story about the Eureka Police Department, he had no idea what trials hed face when trying to access information through a video of an officer who arrested a minor.

Greenson, whos covered the case since 2013, first as a reporter for the Times-Standard and later as the editor of the North Coast Journal, filed an August 2014 request for the arrest video under the California Public Records Act.

Three and a half years later, Greenson has won the James Madison Freedom of Information Award in the Professional Journalist category from the Society of Professional Journalists.

According to court records, former Eureka police Sgt. Adam Laird was involved in the case in which a minor, during his arrest, was pushed to the ground, fell to the ground, or just gave up and laid on the ground. A complaint was later filed against the officer over the incident.

Greenson said he was initially intrigued by the case because he thought it was unusual for a police department to take the steps to investigate one of their own. The officer was later charged but the case was dismissed.

It seemed unfinished. I then thought watching the video would provide an essential leg of the case so I submitted a California Public Records Act request, Greenson said. The county and the city both denied it.

He said their response was discouraging but that he remained hopeful and continued to pursue the case and challenged them in court through a provision in juvenile law because it involved a minor.

The first handful of months were intense because I didnt have an attorney. I had never done anything like this before. I had written about court proceedings but was never part of one, Greenson said. Then in May 2015, the court granted the petition and the video was released. The city appealed that ruling. I realized then I was in over my head.

Enter Paul Nicholas Boylan, a California-based attorney with an extensive background in public and government records. Boylan said when he first spoke with Greenson on the phone he was impressed with the journalists strategy.

Ive never encountered anyone who accomplished what he did. Thad approached it differently and immediately I was intrigued by the mechanism on how he got the video, Boylan said. This case was not only a clever way to get a document but was also addressing a statewide problem far beyond Eureka and Humboldt County.

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Boylan said law enforcement agencies had the tendency to justify withholding videos by classifying them as confidential personnel items to evaluate their performance and thus these videos were considered privileged and private information.

Some public agencies dont like people watching what theyre doing. Often times, we as attorneys wait for the cases that have good facts and will lead to greater transparency. Im fairly confident this is going to make new law in California with more access, more sunshine and less secrecy, Boylan said. His patience and desire to follow this story gave the public and opportunity to examine law enforcement especially when it comes to police brutality.

Matt Drange of the Freedom of Information Committee for the Society of Professional Journalists said Greensons case has the potential to influence reporters and journalists all over the state.

What impressed us the most was his willingness and ability to do a lot of the legal legwork himself, Drange said. His case also reinforced a very strong publics right-to-know argument. It sends a message that transparency is a much better option for agencies when it comes to public information.

Drange also said Greensons work was important for the Humboldt County community because he was able to uncover information for the readers.

Its important for the city government to realize that confiscating and hiding informants is not the best course of action, Drange said.

Natalya Estrada can be reached at 707-441-0510.

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Local journalist wins Freedom of Information Award - Eureka Times Standard