Anchorage, AK PD Citizen Complaint Data
| Submitted | July 18, 2017 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Alexander Cartwright
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Alaska Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. What is the total number of citizen complaints made against your department’s officers annually for the last 10 years?
Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).
2. What is the total number of complaints police officers made against their peer officers in department annually for the last 10 years?
Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).
3. What is the total number of calls for service your department received annually for the past 10 years?
4. What is the number of officers involved in shootings in your department for the past 10 years?
Please include the number of officer-involved shootings resulting in discipline.
5. Which of the above data are published publicly? Please provide a link to any and all publicly available reports containing the data above.
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 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Alexander Cartwright
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 18, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 18, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Richardson, Bill
To Whom It May Concern,
Our department is in receipt of a request for information from Alexander Cartwright, via Muckrock. I'm required by ordinance to send him a letter with an estimate of the costs associated with fulfilling his request prior to beginning the research. Can certified mail be accepted for Mr. Cartwright at the Somerville MA address? If not can you contact him and request a mailing address so that I can send a letter directly to him?
Thanks and best regards,
Lieutenant Bill Richardson
Anchorage Police Department
Office of Professional Responsibility
4501 Elmore Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
907.786.2698
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Lt. Richardson,
You may send certified mail to muckrock or you can communicate with me (Alex Cartwright) directly via email right here.
Respectfully,
Alex Cartwright
From: Richardson, Bill
Dear Mr. Cartwright,
Attached you will find the cost estimate. I apologize for the delay but the person who had to calculate the estimate was on leave and just returned. You may contact me if you have further questions.
Best regards,
Lieutenant Bill Richardson
Anchorage Police Department
Office of Professional Responsibility
4501 Elmore Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
-
~WRD000
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Hello Lt. Richardson,
Thank you for following up. We are Economics Professors in the College of Business at Ferris State University, and are engaged in an empirical research project on police behavior and citizen complaints. We simply do not have enough resources in our budget to pay the request fees.
I would like to amend our request in effort to reduce its scope and thus reduce any associated fees.
1. What is the total number of external complaints the department received per year between 2007 and 2017?
2. What is the total number of internal complaints the department received per year between 2007 and 2017?
If the department publishes an annual report or internal affairs report that contains this information, you may send us that instead (for years 2007 through 2017 or all available).
Very Respectfully,
Alex Cartwright
From: Richardson, Bill
I understand- I was shocked at the amount myself. We do not publish an annual report but I will resubmit the updated request and reply back with the revised estimate. It should be much more reasonable, but don’t quote me.
Best regards,
Lieutenant Bill Richardson
Anchorage Police Department
Office of Professional Responsibility
4501 Elmore Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
From: Meyer, Lana J.
Dear Mr. Cartwright,
The table below indicates the total complaints per year as well as the total external and non-external complaints.
Non-external Complaints
External Complaints
2007
54
11
2008
103
16
2009
108
41
2010
67
44
2011
102
64
2012
85
189
2013
136
520
2014
127
376
2015
103
272
2016
162
229
2017
143
147
Thank you,
Lana Meyer
Clerk
Office of Professional Responsibility
Anchorage Police Department
907-786-8770
-
~WRD000
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Hi,
Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Mrs. Meyer,
I'm writing to ask for clarification on my FOIA requested made on 7/18/2017.
Number 3 of our request asked for information on officer involved shootings "What is the number of officers involved in shootings in your department for the past 10 years? Please exclude shootings at animals and explain what constitutes an officer involved shooting in your department."
However, the response you sent to us only included complaint data and not OIS data. Does Anchorage not collect OIS data? Please clarify.
Respectfully, Alex Cartwright
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Alaska Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 18, 2017. 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: Anchorage Police Department
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Rick Steiding and I am the Commander for the Internal Affairs Unit. I received your email with the request for additional information that was originally requested a few years ago. While looking through the below email chain, I can see where the information for #3 was asked for, but later deleted from the information request due to the cost of research. If you are still interested in this additional information, you will need to file a new request so it can be properly processed and placed into the tracking system. The estimated research time is 2 hours with a cost of $80.00
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Rick
[A black sign with white text Description automatically generated]<http://www.muni.org/departments/police/Pages/default.aspx>
Rick Steiding
Lieutenant, Internal Affairs
Anchorage Police Department
7-16 W 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
Office: (907) 786-2669
richard.steiding@anchorageak.gov<mailto:richard.steiding@anchorageak.gov>
[cid:image002.png@01D72AC7.7BA701C0]<https://local.nixle.com/anchorage-police-department/> [cid:image003.png@01D72AC7.7BA701C0] <https://twitter.com/APDInfo> [A picture containing clipart Description automatically generated] <https://www.facebook.com/APDInfo/>
[EXTERNAL EMAIL]
April 6, 2021
This is a follow up to a previous request:
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Alaska Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 18, 2017. 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.
View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 40153
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
---
On June 5, 2018:
Subject: RE: Alaska Public Records Act Request: Anchorage, AK PD Citizen Complaint Data
Mrs. Meyer,
I'm writing to ask for clarification on my FOIA requested made on 7/18/2017.
Number 3 of our request asked for information on officer involved shootings "What is the number of officers involved in shootings in your department for the past 10 years? Please exclude shootings at animals and explain what constitutes an officer involved shooting in your department."
However, the response you sent to us only included complaint data and not OIS data. Does Anchorage not collect OIS data? Please clarify.
Respectfully, Alex Cartwright
---
On Sept. 3, 2017:
Subject: RE: Alaska Public Records Act Request: Anchorage, AK PD Citizen Complaint Data
Hi,
Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
---
On Aug. 29, 2017:
Subject: Alaska Public Records Act Request: Anchorage, AK PD Citizen Complaint Data
Dear Mr. Cartwright,
The table below indicates the total complaints per year as well as the total external and non-external complaints.
Non-external Complaints
External Complaints
2007
54
11
2008
103
16
2009
108
41
2010
67
44
2011
102
64
2012
85
189
2013
136
520
2014
127
376
2015
103
272
2016
162
229
2017
143
147
Thank you,
Lana Meyer
Clerk
Office of Professional Responsibility
Anchorage Police Department
907-786-8770
---
On Aug. 24, 2017:
Subject: RE: Alaska Public Records Act Request: Anchorage, AK PD Citizen Complaint Data
I understand- I was shocked at the amount myself. We do not publish an annual report but I will resubmit the updated request and reply back with the revised estimate. It should be much more reasonable, but don’t quote me.
Best regards,
Lieutenant Bill Richardson
Anchorage Police Department
Office of Professional Responsibility
4501 Elmore Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99507
---
On Aug. 24, 2017:
Subject: RE: Alaska Public Records Act Request: Anchorage, AK PD Citizen Complaint Data
Hello Lt. Richardson,
Thank you for following up. We are Economics Professors in the College of Business at Ferris State University, and are engaged in an empirical research project on police behavior and citizen complaints. We simply do not have enough resources in our budget to pay the request fees.
I would like to amend our request in effort to reduce its scope and thus reduce any associated fees.
1. What is the total number of external complaints the department received per year between 2007 and 2017?
2. What is the total number of internal complaints the department received per year between 2007 and 2017?
If the department publishes an annual report or internal affairs report that contains this information, you may send us that instead (for years 2007 through 2017 or all available).
Very Respectfully,
Alex Cartwright
---
On July 18, 2017:
Subject: Alaska Public Records Act Request: Anchorage, AK PD Citizen Complaint Data
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Alaska Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. What is the total number of citizen complaints made against your department’s officers annually for the last 10 years?
Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).
2. What is the total number of complaints police officers made against their peer officers in department annually for the last 10 years?
Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).
3. What is the total number of calls for service your department received annually for the past 10 years?
4. What is the number of officers involved in shootings in your department for the past 10 years?
Please include the number of officer-involved shootings resulting in discipline.
5. Which of the above data are published publicly? Please provide a link to any and all publicly available reports containing the data above.
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 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Alexander Cartwright
View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 40153
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
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