FOIA Request to Highlands County Sheriff’s Office regarding new recruits application form on July 29, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office by a representative from the Sunshine Sentinel, a media organization dedicated to covering local governmental affairs. The request, dated July 29, 2025, seeks access to a PDF copy of the application form used for recruiting new applicants at the sheriff’s office.
The request is made under Article I, section 24 of the Florida Constitution and chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. The requester emphasizes the importance of accessing public records as part of their journalistic duty to hold public institutions accountable and provide transparency to the public. The request also mentions an appeal for a fee waiver based on their status as a media professional.
Additionally, it is noted that the requester is affiliated with The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy, a non-profit organization that supports media companies and advocacy groups in investigating governmental agencies through FOIA and Sunshine Laws. More information about this coalition can be found on their website: https://stopsecrecy.org/about/.
Our team will continue to keep you updated as we gather and report news related to this request and other matters of public interest. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification regarding this matter.
