FOIL Request for Information Regarding Threatening Emails Sent to Capital Region Schools (Albany County Sheriff)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law, I hereby request the following records:

Pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), I hereby request copies of the threatening emails received by the North Colonie Central School District, Watervliet City School District, and Green Island Union Free School District, as reported in the news article published by the Times Union on March 6, 2023, titled "Some Capital Region schools received nationally sent email threat Monday" (https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/capital-region-schools-received-nationally-sent-17822662.php)

Additionally, I request copies of any police reports, witness statements, and/or narratives submitted by police officers related to the threatening emails. Please also provide any correspondence between the school districts and law enforcement agencies related to the emails.

As a reminder, FOIL requires that requests for records be granted or denied within five business days of receipt of a request. If access to any records is denied, please provide a written response detailing the reasons for denial.

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, 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,

Jackson Parker

I am writing to appeal the agency's response to my FOIL request (#23-159) dated March 14, 2023. In the agency's response, it was stated that no records were found to fulfill my request for copies of the threatening emails received by the North Colonie Central School District, Watervliet City School District, and Green Island Union Free School District as reported in the news article published by the Times Union on March 6, 2023, and related police reports, witness statements, and/or narratives submitted by police officers related to the threatening emails.

However, I have reason to believe that responsive records exist based on a press release from the Green Island UFSD Superintendent Kimberly Ross on March 6, 2023. In the press release, it was stated that the district notified the Albany County Sheriff’s Office and Green Island Police Department of an email sent to district administrators containing a non-specific threat. The district School Resource Officer was notified, and the Albany County Sheriff’s Office promptly began an investigation. Additionally, the press release stated that law enforcement agencies were informed there were duplicate threats sent to neighboring districts, as well as nationwide. [1]

Given this information, I respectfully request that the agency reevaluate my FOIL request and conduct a more thorough search for responsive records. Specifically, I request any records related to the investigation conducted by the Albany County Sheriff’s Office in response to the non-specific threat received by the Green Island UFSD on March 6, 2023, including any police reports, witness statements, and/or narratives submitted by police officers related to the threatening emails. Additionally, I request any correspondence between the school districts and law enforcement agencies related to the emails.

As a reminder, FOIL requires that requests for records be granted or denied within five business days of receipt of a request. If access to any records is denied, please provide a written response detailing the reasons for denial.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to receiving a response to my appeal within five business days.

[1] https://www.greenisland.org/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=10&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=1840&PageID=1