FOIA Request to Deer Lodge County Sheriff’s Office regarding the number of job applications and tracking on August 14, 2025.
A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was submitted to the Deer Lodge County Sheriff’s Office by a reporter from Big Sky Times. The request, sent on August 14, 2025, seeks specific records under the Montana Public Records Act § 2-6-1001 et seq. The information requested includes data on the number of job applications received by the office, categorized by week, month, or year. Additionally, the request seeks to identify the department or individual responsible for tracking these application numbers.
The requester is affiliated with Big Sky Times, a media organization dedicated to delivering thorough and precise news coverage concerning local governmental activities. The FOIA request emphasizes the importance of accessing public records for media professionals in order to maintain transparency and accountability within public institutions. Furthermore, as a member of The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy—a non-profit organization that aids media entities in investigating government agencies—the requester has sought a fee waiver due to their role in disseminating information to the public.
For more details about The Coalition Opposing Governmental Secrecy and its mission to promote transparency in government actions, interested parties can visit their website at 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.
