50 signatures reached
To: Sheriff William C. Massee, Jr., and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office
Release the 911 Call in the Death of Roni Reaves
We are calling on the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office to release the 911 call related to the death of Roni Reaves.
Under the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(4)), records may only be withheld if an investigation or prosecution is actively pending. The law makes clear that once litigation is final or terminated, the exemption no longer applies.
Nearly nine years have passed. There has been no prosecution, no indictment, and no publicly identified active litigation connected to this case.
If there is a legitimate legal basis for withholding the recording, it should be clearly stated. If there is not, the 911 call should be released, with lawful redactions if necessary.
We are asking for transparency, clarity, and equal application of the law.
Why is this important?
For nearly nine years, the family of Roni Reaves has been without full transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding her death.
The Georgia Open Records Act exists to ensure that government agencies remain accountable to the public. When an agency cites a “pending investigation” exemption year after year without clear evidence of prosecution or active litigation, it raises serious concerns about transparency and equal application of the law.
This petition is about more than one recording. It is about whether public agencies can indefinitely withhold records without demonstrating an active legal basis.
If the law allows redaction, it should be used.
If an investigation is active, it should be confirmed.
If litigation exists, it should be clearly identified.
Transparency builds trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. When transparency is delayed without explanation, trust erodes.
The release of the 911 call — in accordance with Georgia law — would provide clarity, accountability, and fairness.
This matters not only for Roni Reaves’ family, but for every citizen who relies on open government laws to ensure transparency in serious cases.