Legislator Introduces 911 Privacy Bill

The family of murder victim Brittany Zimmermann has convinced a Wisconsin state legislator to introduce a bill that would change how 911 logging tapes are released to the public. The Zimmermanns specifically want to prevent the release of the audio of a 911 call from Zimmermann’s apartment the day she was murdered by an unknown person. Through a series of errors and miscommunications, no officer was sent to investigate the hang-up 911 call that may have been made by Zimmermann as she was attacked. Those who have heard the recording—that has never been released—say there are sounds that should have prompted a law enforcement response to the apartment. State Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink (D) held a hearing last week to hear testimony from the Zimmermann’s and from the family of Jordan Gonnering, Zimmermann’s boyfriend. It was Gonnering who found Zimmermann’s body several hours after the 911 call. Under Vruwink’s bill, record custodians can now withhold the release of tapes under a balancing test. The bill would allow the release of a printed transcript of 911 calls, allowing the custodian more flexibility to release calls, but provide more privacy. More state legislatures are considering 911 tape privacy laws, which are generally opposed by the nation’s journalism associations. Download (pdf) a copy of the proposed bill here, and read more about it here.