Unmarked Vehicle Data, Policies, Reporting, Use (Benton County Sheriff's Office)
| Multi Request | Unmarked Vehicle Data, Policies, Reporting, Use |
| Submitted | Aug. 14, 2020 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Beryl Lipton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
Materials regarding the use and reporting of use of unmarked vehicles by representatives and employees of this agency:
POLICY
All policies, statutes, and guidance used to govern the use of unmarked vehicles or any other vehicle used or in the possession of this agency that is not clearly and obviously marked as a law enforcement vehicle.
Please include all policies regarding access to such vehicles, use of the vehicles, internal reporting requirements when such vehicles are used, and external reporting requirements.
FORMS and GUIDANCE
A blank version of all forms and logs used by this agency in relation unmarked vehicles, including all those used to track use, damage, and the inventory of vehicles.
DATA
All available data, reports, audits, and other aggregated information regarding this agency’s inventory and use of unmarked vehicles for the period from January 1, 2015 through July 31, 2020.
OTHER
In the initial acknowledgement letter from your agency, if you could please include an indication of whether your agency does use unmarked vehicles in some form, that would be appreciated.
For reference, here are examples of the kinds of materials that would be responsive to this request:
• Pennsylvania state statute (http://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol35/35-2/55.html);
• opinion of the Wisconsin Attorney General (https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/oag/archival/_293/_1/_16);
• Orlando Police Department policy (https://www.orlando.gov/files/sharedassets/public/documents/opd/policies-and-procedures/police-operations/1132.3-response-to-calls-traffic-stops-by-unmarked-police-vehicles.pdf);
• Howard County, Maryland Internal Audit Report of Police Take-Home Vehicle Program Audit - May 2018 (https://cc.howardcountymd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=xwqgv-M7q9g%3D&tabid=132&portalid=0)
• Minneapolis’s Daily Activity Report (MP-3006) and Equipment Work Order Log (MP-5400)
If any portion of materials responsive to this request should be deemed unavailable or non-disclosable, please specifically identify the portions of the records or the specific information that is unavailable and the reason for the unavailability.
If any portion of this request is unclear or if this request could be modified to reduce the burden of producing responsive documents or provide them more efficiently or expeditiously, please reply with a request for clarification or a proposed modification.
This request is being made by a reporter as part of a journalistic investigation. It is being submitted to your agency at the request of a member of your community as part of a project to better understand policing agencies nationwide.
In the event that there are fees appropriately assessed in association with this request, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter.
I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Beryl Lipton
From: Benton County Sheriff's Office
On August 17, 2020, our office received your request for records regarding- Policies, Statutes, and guidance used to govern the use of unmarked vehicles or any vehicles in the possession of this agency that is not clearly and obviously marked as a law enforcement vehicle. Tracking number 2020-2020-1056 has been assigned to your request, please use this number on all correspondence associated with this request for records. This email serves to acknowledge said request pursuant to RCW 42.56.520.
The Benton County Sheriff's Office is reviewing your request and has determined additional time is needed to search for potentially responsive documents, review for potential exemptions under the law and prepare an exemption log if applicable. Based on the above, the number of requests being processed, current staffing and workload, we estimate the releasable records will be available to you by November 19, 2020. Should this estimate need to be revised, we will notify you as soon as possible.
Thank you in advance for your patience concerning this matter. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your public records request, please contact our office at 509-735-6555 extension 3285.
[decal_sigline]TONI MATA
Records Division
Benton County Sheriff's Office
7122 W. Okanogan Place, Bld. A
Kennewick, Washington 99336
509-735-6555 ext. 3285
NOTICE OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE: This message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. Any unauthorized use, distribution, or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and destroy/delete the original transmission. Any correspondence from or to this e-mail account may be public record. Accordingly, this e-mail, in whole or in part, may be subject to disclosure pursuant to RCW 42.56, regardless of any claim of confidentiality or privilege asserted by an external party.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Washington Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 14, 2020. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Benton County Sheriff's Office
Per your email received today, September 4, 2020, please see the below response that was sent on August 20, 2020 from our office.
If you have any questions you may contact me at 509-735-6555 extension 3284.
[cid:image004.jpg@01D682A1.F5A62420]Sergeant Linda Finley
Records Sergeant
Benton County Sheriff's Office
7122 W. Okanogan Place, Bldg. A
Kennewick, Washington 99336
509-735-6555 ext. 3284
NOTICE OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE: This message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. Any unauthorized use, distribution, or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and destroy/delete the original transmission. Any correspondence from or to this e-mail account may be public record. Accordingly, this e-mail, in whole or in part, may be subject to disclosure pursuant to RCW 42.56, regardless of any claim of confidentiality or privilege asserted by an external party.
From: Benton County Sheriff's Office
Good Morning,
Benton County Sheriff's Office is reviewing your request and has determined additional time is needed to search for potentially responsive documents, review for potential exemptions under the law and prepare an exemption log if applicable. Based on the above, the number of requests being processed, current staffing and workload, we estimate the releasable records will be available to you by November 19, 2020. Should this estimate need to be revised, we will notify you as soon as possible.
Thank you in advance for your patience concerning this matter. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your public records request, please contact our office at 509-735-6555 extension 3285.
[decal_sigline]TONI MATA
Records Division
Benton County Sheriff’s Office
7122 W. Okanogan Place, Bld. A
Kennewick, Washington 99336
509-735-6555 ext. 3285
NOTICE OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE: This message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. Any unauthorized use, distribution, or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and destroy/delete the original transmission. Any correspondence from or to this e-mail account may be public record. Accordingly, this e-mail, in whole or in part, may be subject to disclosure pursuant to RCW 42.56, regardless of any claim of confidentiality or privilege asserted by an external party.
From: Benton County Sheriff's Office
On August 08, 2020, our office received your request for records involving - Materials regarding the use and reporting of use of unmarked vehicles by representatives and employees of Benton County Sheriff's Office, policies, forms, guidance and data. Tracking number 2020-1056 has been assigned and this email serves to respond to said request pursuant to RCW 42.56.520.
Attached to this email are the documents responsive to your request. In the event any of the documents provided to you appear to be privileged or exempt, the disclosure is inadvertent, and the County does not waive any applicable exemption or privilege. If you become aware that any of the documents provided to you appear to be exempt from disclosure, please notify me immediately and promptly return the erroneously released document.
We now regard your request as fulfilled and concluded. If you have any questions, please call 509-735-6555 extension 3285 or send an email to BCSORecords@co.benton.wa.us<mailto:BCSORecords@co.benton.wa.us>.
[decal_sigline]TONI MATA
Records Division Benton County Sheriff's Office
7122 W. Okanogan Place, Bld. A
Kennewick, Washington 99336
509-735-6555 ext. 3285
NOTICE OF PUBLIC DISCLOSURE: This message is intended for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed. Any unauthorized use, distribution, or disclosure is strictly prohibited. If you received this message in error, please notify sender immediately and destroy/delete the original transmission. Any correspondence from or to this e-mail account may be public record. Accordingly, this e-mail, in whole or in part, may be subject to disclosure pursuant to RCW 42.56, regardless of any claim of confidentiality or privilege asserted by an external party.
Files
pages