Records from three requests to San Juan Basin Public Health

Records from San Juan Basin Public Health reveal some training expenses that former Director Liane Jollon took before leaving the department.

These records were requested on August 18, 2023 and received on August 23, 2023.

Immediately after I finished filling out the records request forms for these at the lobby in San Juan Basin Public Health, Brain Devine successfully had two Durango Police Department officers trespass me from the building. My video recording of the visit was their justification for trespassing me from the building.

Moreover, their trespassing me from the facility was unlawful since a recent 10th Circuit Court case allowed me to video record public officials in the course of their duties. Specifically, the 10th Circuit ruling in Irizarry v. Yehia suggests that recording public officials in the course of their duties is a protected activity.

First, “`[t]here is practically universal agreement that a major purpose of’ the First Amendment `was to protect the free discussion of governmental affairs.'” Ariz. Free Enter. Club’s Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett, 564 U.S. 721, 755, 131 S.Ct. 2806, 180 L.Ed.2d 664 (2011) (quoting Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1, 14, 96 S.Ct. 612, 46 L.Ed.2d 659 (1976) (per curiam)). This purpose enables “the press… to serve as a powerful antidote to any abuses of power by governmental officials.” Mills v. Alabama, 384 U.S. 214, 219, 86 S.Ct. 1434, 16 L.Ed.2d 484 (1966). Filming the police and other public officials as they perform their official duties acts as “a watchdog of government activity,” Leathers v. Medlock, 499 U.S. 439, 447, 111 S.Ct. 1438, 113 L.Ed.2d 494 (1991), and furthers debate on matters of public concern.

Former Director of San Juan Basin Public Health Liane Jollon.

The redacted portions of the provided credit card statements appear to be expenses of other employees who were working underneath Jollon.

Executive Assistant Shandi Pritchett provided the following response to my written request:

Dear Mr. Howell,

In response to you Open Records Request:

1. We are unable to provide you with a copy of “Bellann Raile’s forensic accounting report about emergency duty compensation pay from March 2020 to March 2023” as the Court is the owner of that record. You can request the document through the Clerk of the La Plata County District Court.
2. The last 3 credit card statements of Liane Jollon are attached. Information redacted from these pages is outside the scope of your request.
3. SJBPH contracts for IT support including surveillance video support. SJBPH received a cost estimate from the IT Contractor for providing the video in a HIPAA-protected format for August 18 for $ 2,000.00. SJBPH will commence work on your Open Records Request upon receipt of both payment and your advance approval, at which time SJBPH will have 72 hours to fulfill the request.  If actual charges are less than the deposit, the balance will be refunded to you. Payment in the form of cash, check or money order made payable to San Juan Basin Public Health will be accepted in an envelope marked “Attention: Open Records Request.” Alternatively, you can make this payment through SJBPH’s online payment portal at: https://smartpay.profitstars.com/express/SJB%20Health. If using the online portal, please be sure to use the “one-time payment” option, and choose “open records” as the payment.

 

May 2023 Credit card statement _Redacted
March 2023 credit card statement_Redacted
April 2023 Credit card statement_Redacted

Pritchett responded to my request for screenshots of Brian Devine’s text messages on 8/18/2023.

Dear Mr. Howell,

In response to your Open Records Request, attached are the screenshots from Brian Devine’s phone conversation for the date of 8/18/23. Messages outside the requested date range have been removed in order to comply with your request.

Thank you,

Shandi Pritchett

Executive Assistant