August 6, 2026 | Freeport, IL
Presented by Imani Brooks
Anchor Desk | F4F NEWS
Investigative Reporting, Editing & Publication
Joshua T. Atkinson
Chairman | Fighting4Freeport
Every headline has a beginning.
Sometimes it starts with a phone call.
Sometimes it starts with a tip.
But more often than people realize, it begins with a Freedom of Information Act request.
Before Fighting4Freeport publishes an investigative article, our team is often requesting public records, reviewing government documents, and following the paper trail wherever it leads. Those requests don't determine guilt or innocence, but they do help separate speculation from documented fact.
Each month, The FOIA Report highlights every request submitted by Fighting4Freeport, evaluates how public agencies responded, and explains what those responses tell us—and just as importantly, what they don't.
Our compliance ratings are not based on whether we agree with an agency's decision. They evaluate whether the agency followed the Illinois Freedom of Information Act by responding on time, communicating clearly, citing the proper legal authority, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to public transparency.
July by the Numbers
FOIA Requests Filed: 6
Public Agencies Evaluated: 4
Average Compliance Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
Freeport Fire Department
March 22, 2025 Structure Fire
★★★★★ Excellent
The City of Freeport received Fighting4Freeport's request for records relating to the March 22, 2025 structure fire near St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church.
The response set the standard for transparency.
Rather than producing only a basic incident report, the City released an extensive collection of records, including dispatch logs, CAD records, incident command documentation, hydrant inspections, engineering information, fireground diagrams, drone photography, weather reports, and operational materials explaining water supply decisions made during the incident.
Whether readers ultimately agree with those decisions is not what this rating measures.
The City gave the public enough information to examine those decisions independently—and that is exactly what transparency should accomplish.
Illinois State Police
Stephen G. Cassell Investigation
★★★★☆ Good
The Illinois State Police confirmed that one responsive report exists relating to this request.
However, the report was withheld under the personal privacy exemption contained within the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
While Fighting4Freeport believes additional non-exempt portions may have been releasable through redaction, the agency complied with the procedural requirements of the law, cited the applicable exemption, and advised us of our appeal rights.
What this response tells us: A responsive report exists.
What it does not tell us: What information that report contains.
Illinois State Police
Academy of Readiness and Character (ARC)
★★★☆☆ Satisfactory
This request sought complaints, reports, referrals, and investigations involving The Academy of Readiness and Character dating back to 2010.
The Illinois State Police reported that it could not locate responsive records based on the information provided and requested additional identifying information before conducting what it described as a more adequate search.
The agency complied with Illinois FOIA procedurally.
However, the response raises reasonable questions regarding whether a broader search may have produced different results.
Lena Police Department
Beloved Church & Administrative Investigation Records
★★★★★ Excellent
Fighting4Freeport submitted two FOIA requests to the Lena Police Department seeking records relating to Beloved Church and administrative records documenting the handling of the Stephen G. Cassell investigation.
Both requests were denied under Section 7(1)(d) of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act because releasing the requested records could interfere with an active criminal investigation or pending law enforcement proceedings.
Although no records were released, the department responded within the statutory deadline, cited the appropriate exemption, explained its decision, and provided complete appeal rights.
Just as importantly, both responses confirmed responsive records exist and remain connected to an active law enforcement matter.
Stockton Police Department
Mitchell Faith Records
★★★★★ Excellent
The Stockton Police Department responded promptly, communicated professionally, and complied with the procedural requirements of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
While the requested records were not ultimately released, the department demonstrated that transparency is measured not only by what government discloses, but also by how it handles requests when records cannot legally be made public.
What July's FOIA Requests Revealed
Viewed individually, each request tells only part of the story. Viewed together, they reveal something larger.
Government transparency is not simply about releasing documents.
It is about explaining decisions, following the law, and providing the public with enough information to understand what government is doing—even when certain records must remain confidential.
This month's requests showed that different agencies approach transparency differently.
The Freeport Fire Department released an extensive collection of records that allows the public to evaluate its response to a major fire.
The Lena Police Department confirmed that records connected to the Holy Kisses investigation remain protected because of an active criminal investigation.
The Illinois State Police confirmed one responsive report exists relating to Stephen G. Cassell while reporting that additional information would be needed to conduct a broader search relating to ARC.
None of these responses establish criminal liability. None predict future charging decisions. None determine guilt or innocence. They do, however, provide valuable insight into how government agencies are handling matters of significant public interest.
That is precisely why FOIA exists.
Follow Every FOIA Request Before It Becomes a Headline
The articles you read today often begin weeks—or even months—earlier with a public records request.
Our 2026 FOIA Tracker allows readers to follow every request submitted by Fighting4Freeport, monitor response deadlines, review agency compliance ratings, and see how public bodies respond to requests for government records.
F4F Insiders receive exclusive access to newly filed FOIA requests, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at exactly what our investigative team is asking, what records we're pursuing, and what stories may be developing before the articles are written and before the headlines become public.
Explore the tracker at:
www.Fighting4Freeport.com/2026-FOIA-Tracker
Looking Ahead
July marked the beginning of what will become a recurring monthly feature at Fighting4Freeport.
New FOIA requests will be made. Additional responses are expected. As those records are released—or lawfully withheld—we'll continue documenting the process through The FOIA Report and updating our online FOIA Tracker.
Because transparency isn't measured by a single document.
It's measured by a willingness to keep asking questions, keep following the paper trail, and keep the public informed.
We'll see you next month.