BY SARAH LEBRUN

Of the 16 police departments we visited, there was an even split between who allowed us to see a list of police activity and arrests for the week, and who didn’t.

While the Right to Know Law does not specifically address the need for police departments to keep a log of activity, recent court cases have clarified that arrests are public information, said attorney Kathleen Sullivan.

Eight departments – Candia, Dunbarton, Epsom, Hopkinton, New Boston, Salem, Pelham and Windham – provided police logs immediately or later that day.

Even at these eight departments, employees asked reporters who they were and why they wanted to see the log. At four departments, we were given the police log only after the person on duty figured out we were reporters.

Our reporter visited the Hopkinton Police Department, and asked the secretary, Patricia Finnerty, to see a list of the past week’s calls and arrests. She was asked if she was a reporter and then requested to show a press ID.

When our reporter said she didn’t have a press ID,  Finnerty made a phone call.

“I heard her tell whoever was on the other end I had come to the station, claiming to be a reporter, and asking for the arrest log,” said our reporter. “After hanging up, she took the log out of a file and made a copy for me.”

Of the eight departments that wouldn’t give us the police log, Auburn, Bow and Pembroke  required us to file a written request. Weare even suggested filing a Right to Know request.

In Hooksett, it was impossible to even find an employee to say yes or no to our request for information. On three separate visits, our reporter was either told no one could help him or there was no one at the police station window.

At the Allenstown Police Department, we asked for a list of last week’s calls and arrests. A woman asked for what purpose we needed the logs, and we said we just wanted to see them.

“We don’t have that information,” the woman said. “It doesn’t print out.”

In Bedford, we spoke with secretary Charlene Robinson and asked for the same list.

We were told if we wanted a list of arrests, we could try going to the court. When we asked if the Police Department had a list of calls and arrests, she said yes, but it was not for public viewing.

The Goffstown Police Department discovered our staffer was a reporter, but told her there is no police log.

Debbie Odette, an employee in the records department, said a Goffstown News reporter used to come in to speak with someone at the department about arrests, accidents and reports.

The Salem Police Department was willing to let us have a copy of the police log, but at a price.

A woman at the records window said we could get a copy, but it would cost $1 per page for the report we wanted.

Because we wanted to know what it would cost before committing to paying for the log, our reporter left her name and number for the department to call later with the cost.

Ten to 15 minutes later, the woman in records called to say they printed the report, and it was 158 pages, so it would cost $158.

The Salem Observer receives the police log free every week.