Manhattan Approves Purchase of FOIA Redaction Software for Police Department

Manhattan Village Board Meeting | November 4, 2025

Article Summary: To handle a surge in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for body-camera footage, the Manhattan Village Board approved the purchase of new video redaction software and an accompanying computer for the police department.

Police Department Software Purchase Key Points:

• The total first-year cost for the computer and Case Guard software is $6,923.35, with an annual renewal cost of approximately $4,000.

• Police Chief Ryan Gulli said the purchase is necessary to comply with an unfunded state mandate that requires hundreds of staff hours for manual redaction.

• The department has received 119 FOIA requests so far in 2025, a significant increase from 66 in all of 2024.

MANHATTAN, IL – The Manhattan Village Board on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, approved the purchase of a new computer and specialized software to help the police department manage a growing number of public records requests involving video footage.

The board authorized a total expenditure of $6,923.35 for a new computer and a one-year license for Case Guard redaction software. The software, which uses artificial intelligence, will automate the process of blurring faces, personal information, and other sensitive content from body-worn camera and squad car videos to comply with state privacy laws.

Police Chief Ryan Gulli explained that the purchase was a direct response to an “unfunded state mandate” that has placed a heavy burden on his staff. The department has seen FOIA requests nearly double, from 66 in all of 2024 to 119 so far in 2025.

“This is an unfunded state mandate that’s costing the police department thousands of dollars… hundreds of manpower hours to fulfill,” Gulli said. He noted one recent auto accident case required an officer to spend 80 hours manually redacting video from four different body cameras.

Without the automated software, Gulli said the department cannot keep up with the volume of requests in a timely manner without hiring additional personnel. The software license will have an annual renewal cost of approximately $4,000.