Eugene Police Charged $2.4M for Records Request
The city demanded millions to process a public records request regarding a police officer's alleged misconduct.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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The Eugene Police Department estimated that processing a public records request from Double Sided Media would cost over $2.48 million. The city claims it must search records of every current and past employee to fulfill the request concerning officer Justin Peckels.
Why it matters
The massive fee has effectively paused the investigation into potential police misconduct between 2018 and 2026. The city is currently requiring payment before it will continue any work on the request.
The city cited a requirement to review 44,816 estimated hours of staff time across all past and current city records. Double Sided Media has initiated an appeal of the fee.
The players
Eugene Police Department
This is the primary law enforcement agency serving the city of Eugene, Oregon.
Double Sided Media
This organization acts as the party requesting public records and challenging the city's fee.
Justin Peckels
He is the police officer named in the public records request regarding potential misconduct.
The details
The Eugene Police Department stated it could not narrow the search to specific custodians, forcing a massive, agency-wide review of all personnel files. This bill follows a separate $195,869.52 charge related to records for another former officer, while the department recently signed a $342,000 contract for license plate reader technology.
Timeline
The records request covers potential misconduct between 2018 and 2026.
Double Sided Media filed the public records request in August 2026.
The Eugene Police Department issued the fee estimate on September 28, 2026.
Legal Context
This dispute tests the boundaries of the Oregon Public Records Law regarding what constitutes a reasonable fee for processing complex data requests. It reflects a broader trend of local agencies using administrative search requirements to limit the disclosure of police personnel records.
Residents may face reduced transparency regarding how the Eugene Police Department handles officer conduct and oversight. The high cost of these requests limits the ability of external organizations to monitor potential police misconduct.
The takeaway
The case highlights how administrative hurdles and cost estimates can significantly restrict public access to information about law enforcement. Organizations seeking government transparency often face these financial barriers when agencies claim broad search parameters are necessary.
Further reading
Learn more about local transparency issues in our Law Enforcement section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Intercept.
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