The Records Audit Showdown: When a Clerk Calls the Cops and the Law Fights Back

What happens when a citizen simply asks to inspect a public records index—and the city clerk calls the police? On Election Day 2024, an experienced First Amendment auditor walked into Chehalis City Hall to request a legally mandated document. What followed was an astonishing display of ignorance, overreaction, and government overreach.

Watch as an auditor calmly educates city staff, a police chief, and a flustered clerk who seems more concerned about her “comfort level” than her legal duties. This isn’t just a video—it’s a masterclass in standing your ground, knowing your rights, and exposing bureaucratic dysfunction in real time.

🔹 Why every government agency must maintain a public records index
🔹 The clerk’s meltdown—and how the law proves her wrong
🔹 What RCW 42.56.070 really says—and why it matters
🔹 How to spot unlawful trespass threats and shut them down
🔹 A rare example of a police chief actually siding with the Constitution
🔹 The power of being calm, informed, and relentless in the face of ignorance

This audit turned into a legal education—and a lesson in accountability.
Never underestimate a citizen with a camera and a copy of the law.