Police data collection request (Austin Police Department)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:

Thank you for your interest in the public records of the Austin Police Department. Your request has been received and is being processed. Your request was received in this office on 1/4/2021 and given the reference number R051157-010421 for tracking purposes.
Please be advised that the Austin Police Department’s Central Records Division receives over 2500 requests for information a month. These requests are processed in the order received, and we strive to respond to each request promptly, as required by law.
Please know that, as a result of the large volume of requests received, the anticipated timeframe for responding to your request is approximately 45-60 business days.
You will be contacted about the availability and/or provided with copies of the records requested. PLEASE NOTE: The Texas Public Information Act does not require a governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you’ll receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Austin Public Records Center.
Austin Police Department
To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the Austin Texas Public Records Center. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HeZF9FIb5qGL4Wo8QodmQopMqUwpdc2zK8dClUv4e9rzmYGroaQMxaZF0RqxLpZYPQhvMSjWkHlaybB-2Ftpesv7s-3D-4ZU_0-2FGbTw-2BYuB1PtMLxseNtJZXazYKlSAmrVZ-2FpSPwggOuEzI3xsh68R7Gj8Dco0AU-2B-2BKta0G0MBtvkPTl2GCVMpfeOjHW1FHOf9Ri31GuMLC9zuXalIOOP0ZrEsnhMInkVPgTVj9QBzm0vmlYsVWudMl8ERsdK82rOyM9IgWVW7CN-2Fp3kcqK6kN7iN9X9WkFVWs-2BM-2FQnWTP4HIlj4aDmqPxUsHy-2Fx07ueMUmkVaac5aGCB0OAdXvs9QQZrU17QiQjPYoroMVqwTRRIEY4RL37Gd7Mt2PjcavJgF61lNlWtMwkz66aVGVuPPPLOebrtB1EUoRfUSAwUU1AC-2B28xnZ1QREwj92a4IeYty2kcKytBHEspadrZ1OPuOWqdxa3PCTt0BxaI00q44v3uR87H7PkZgw-3D-3D)

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Re: Open Record Request of January 04, 2021, Reference # R051157-010421
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
The City of Austin received a Public Information request from you on January 04, 2021, to request copies of records pertaining to the following: “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year and by type of force used from 2016-2020 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2016, 3 baton incidents in 2017, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2017, 4 complaints in 2018, 1 complaint sustained in 2019, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2020, separated by year
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2020, separated by year
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2020, separated by year

Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints alleging police misconduct, please do not include complaints filed by one officer/the department against another officer.

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,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/
I am working on #1 for your request. The other portions of your request seeking complaint information may already be available at this website: https://alpha.austin.gov/en/police-oversight/official-complaint-and-discipline-documents/. Please review this website and let me know if this data will suffice for the complaint portion of your request.
Thank you for contacting the City of Austin.
APD PIO

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Re: Open Record Request of January 04, 2021, Reference # R051157-010421
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
The City of Austin received a Public Information request from you on January 04, 2021, to request copies of records pertaining to the following: “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year and by type of force used from 2016-2020 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2016, 3 baton incidents in 2017, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2017, 4 complaints in 2018, 1 complaint sustained in 2019, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2020, separated by year
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2020, separated by year
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2020, separated by year

Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints alleging police misconduct, please do not include complaints filed by one officer/the department against another officer.

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,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/
Hello, #1 for your request is already available at: https://data.austintexas.gov/
Thank you for contacting the City of Austin.
APD PIO

--- Please respond above this line ---

Re: Open Record Request of January 04, 2021, Reference # R051157-010421
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
The City of Austin received a Public Information request from you on January 04, 2021, to request copies of records pertaining to the following: “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year and by type of force used from 2016-2020 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2016, 3 baton incidents in 2017, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2017, 4 complaints in 2018, 1 complaint sustained in 2019, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2020, separated by year
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2020, separated by year
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2020, separated by year

Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints alleging police misconduct, please do not include complaints filed by one officer/the department against another officer.

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,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/ Hello again. I wanted to follow up again because I have not heard back from you. #1 for your request is available at http://data.austintexas.gov #2-5 will need to be obtained from the Office of Police Oversight: https://alpha.austin.gov/en/police-oversight/ - they also have publicly available information that may fulfill what you are looking for. I will be closing this request.
Thank you,
APD PIO