Police Data Collection (Baltimore, 2020)
| Tracking # |
MPIA 21 0929 |
| Submitted | April 28, 2021 |
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Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Maryland 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 2020 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2020, 3 baton incidents in 2020, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2020 (for example, 8 complaints in 2020, 2 complaints sustained in 2020).
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2020.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2020.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2020.
6. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.
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 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Maryland Public Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 28, 2021. 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: Baltimore Police Department
Dear Mr. Samuel Sinyangwe:
This is an acknowledgement of your request below, for public information, submitted to the Document Compliance Unit ("DCU") of the Baltimore Police Department ("BPD"). Your request is governed by the Maryland Public Information Act ("PIA"), Maryland Code, General Provisions Article ("GP"), Sections 4-101 et seq. DCU will process your request promptly. However, our response may take longer than ten (10) working days, the reasons for which may include the scope of your request, the type and volume of potentially responsive records, and the nature of the search, review, and preparation that is required. In any event, DCU will respond to your request within thirty (30) days. GP § 4-203.
DCU will contact you with the availability of records and the possible costs associated with this request, as soon as the information is made available by the Custodian of Records. Likewise, if DCU and/or the Custodian of Records need you to clarify your request, DCU will contact you promptly.
Please refer to tracking # MPIA 21- 0929 in any subsequent correspondence pertaining to this matter. All follow up correspondence should be made in writing and submitted to the DCU's e-mail: DCU@baltimorepolice.org<mailto:DCU@baltimorepolice.org>.
Please understand that because of COVID-19, the Baltimore Police Department, Document Compliance Unit ("DCU") is working under a state of emergency and mandated to work remotely. DCU will work diligently to respond to your request as quickly as possible. Please note responses to document request may take longer than normal.
Ken Hurst
Contract Specialist
Baltimore Police Department
Office of Legal Affairs
Document Compliance Unit
410-637-8684
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this e-mail message may be a privileged and confidential attorney/client communication, or otherwise confidential, and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are notified that any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the Legal Affairs Division immediately by telephone at 410-396-2496 and DELETE the message from your system immediately.
The materials in this e-mail are private and may contain sensitive law enforcement information. Please note that e-mail is not necessarily confidential or secure. Use of e-mail constitutes your acknowledgment of these confidentiality and security limitations. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited as covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender via telephone or return e-mail.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Maryland Public Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 28, 2021. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #MPIA 21 0929.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Baltimore Police Department
Good Morning:
The information is in final review for release.
Thank you
Ken Hurst
Contract Specialist
Baltimore Police Department
Office of Legal Affairs
Document Compliance Unit
410-637-8684
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this e-mail message may be a privileged and confidential attorney/client communication, or otherwise confidential, and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are notified that any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the Legal Affairs Division immediately by telephone at 410-396-2496 and DELETE the message from your system immediately.
The materials in this e-mail are private and may contain sensitive law enforcement information. Please note that e-mail is not necessarily confidential or secure. Use of e-mail constitutes your acknowledgment of these confidentiality and security limitations. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited as covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender via telephone or return e-mail.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Maryland Public Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 28, 2021. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #MPIA 21 0929.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Baltimore Police Department
Date: June 15, 2021
Samuel Sinyangwe
MuckRock News
Department MR 111746
411A Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
Re: MPIA 21-0929 Information related to “Use of Force and Complaints.”
Dear Mr. Samuel Sinyangwe:
You have made a request for public records pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA), which is the General Provisions Article, § 4-101, et seq., of the Annotated Code of Maryland for “Use of Force and Complaints.”
Please see below in reference to the breakdown of your request:
*Number of Use of Force incidents, separated by year and by type
*Number of Civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct
*Number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement excessive force
*Number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling
*Number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct
Please see the attached spread sheets which will satisfy this request.
*Our data bases do not break the offences down by numbers. They are kept by date.
* A portion of the records sought via your request are protected personnel records under Maryland Law. See Md. Code Ann., General Provisions Art. (“GP”), § 4-101<http://www.lexis.com/research/xlink?app=00075&view=full&searchtype=get&search=Md.+STATE+GOVERNMENT+Code+Ann.+%A7+10-611> et seq. GP Section 4-311(a) states that “a custodian shall deny inspection of a personnel record of an individual, including an application, performance rating, or scholastic achievement information.”(emphasis added). Further, the Maryland Court of Appeals in Montgomery County v. Shropshire noted that the “personnel” exception to disclosure includes documents “relating to hiring, discipline, promotion, dismissal, or any other matter involving an employee’s status.” 420 Md. 362, 378 (2011). Inspection is permissible only by the person in interest or an elected or appointed official that supervises the individual’s work. See GP, § 4-311(b)(1)(2) (2014).
Please refer to Tracking Number # MPIA 21-0929 in any subsequent correspondence in this matter.
Ken Hurst
Contract Specialist
Baltimore Police Department
Office of Legal Affairs
Document Compliance Unit
410-637-8684
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this e-mail message may be a privileged and confidential attorney/client communication, or otherwise confidential, and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are notified that any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the Legal Affairs Division immediately by telephone at 410-396-2496 and DELETE the message from your system immediately.
The materials in this e-mail are private and may contain sensitive law enforcement information. Please note that e-mail is not necessarily confidential or secure. Use of e-mail constitutes your acknowledgment of these confidentiality and security limitations. If you are not the intended recipient, be advised that any unauthorized use, disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited as covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521. If you have received this e-mail in error, please immediately notify the sender via telephone or return e-mail.
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