The local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is demanding that city officials release to the public a controversial 2,300-page report outlining an investigation into alleged misconduct within the Springfield Police Department.

The Springfield ACLU Regional Steering Committee filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the report, which was compiled by the Illinois State Police following an internal investigation sought by former police chief Don Kliment.

"We believe this is important public information that citizens have a right to see," said Bob Wesley, president of the ACLU committee. "Keeping this information from the public creates a climate of mistrust."

Wesley said the committee a couple of months ago sent Mayor Tim Davlin a letter asking him to release the report to the public, but they never received a response from Davlin.

"I don't understand why the mayor would burden the public and the police with doubts about the department," Wesley said.

Mayoral spokesman Ernie Slottag said Thursday the city will not release the report because a temporary restraining order issued by Circuit Judge Robert Eggers in August bars its release.

The restraining order came about after aldermen passed an ordinance that said they need access to the report to properly oversee the police department.

Davlin opposed the ordinance, saying aldermen did not need the report to do their job. Eggers blocked the ordinance two weeks later by issuing the restraining order.

"The mayor is prevented from releasing it by Circuit Judge Robert Eggers, who last August issued a temporary restraining order preventing us from releasing the report," Slottag said. "And the mayor is not going to go against the court."

Slottag said he thinks the mayor will respond to the ACLU's letter, but that Davlin probably hasn't had time to do so yet. "The response would probably be very similar to what I told you," he said.

Several media outlets, city aldermen and other groups have sought access to the report. City officials and the union representing Springfield police officers have vehemently objected to its release, saying it would violate the privacy of officers who cooperated with the investigation.

They also say it could identify confidential sources, damage future investigations, reveal internal-affairs techniques and disclose information on two pending homicide cases.

Online: http://www.sj-r.com/News/stories/21836.asp.