Purchase and 'less lethal' deployment records (Bell Police Department)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2015 of any of the following:
• Firearms of .50 caliber or greater
• Patrol rifles (as commonly denominated for law enforcement use) or assault rifles (as defined in Sections 30510 and 30515 of the California Penal Code)
• Wheeled vehicles that are built or modified to provide ballistic protection to their occupants, such as Bearcats or armored personnel carriers.
• Projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents
• Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD)

2. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2018 of explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flash bang" grenades and explosive breaching tools, and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".

3. Records of deployment by your agency since January 1, 2020 of projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents; explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flashbang" grenades and explosive breaching tools; and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".

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.

If you would like to discuss this request, please feel free to reach out to me, John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee, at 510-282-8983.

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

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,

John Lindsay-Poland

Dear Police Records Supervisor Pimentel,

Thank you for your attention to this Public Records Act request from November 1 2021. Can we get an update on when we can expect to receive the results? Thank you, and please don't hesitate to reach out if we can clarify anything.

Sincerely,

John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee
510-282-8983

Dear Detective Sergeant Jose Jimenez,

Thank you for your attention to this Public Records Act request from November 1 2021 (copied below). Can we get an update on when we can expect to receive the results? Thank you, and please don't hesitate to reach out if we can clarify anything.

Sincerely,

John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee
510-282-8983

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Good morning Mr. John Lindsay-Poland,

The Bell Police Department is in receipt of your electronic PRA request dated November, 1, 2021, were you are seeking records for Purchase and 'less lethal' deployment records.

In your request attached you are seeking records from Items #1- #3. Said items are requesting items pertaining to invoices, procurement records, purchase records, records of disbursement of public funds, pertaining to;

1. Firearms of .50 caliber or greater.
2. Patrol Rifles,
3. Wheeled vehicles,
4. Projectile launch platforms and projectile launchers
5. Long-Range Acoustic Device.

Additionally records of deployment by our agency since January 1, 20202 of projectile launch platforms, , bean bags or SIM weapons, and riot guns.

I have forwarded your request to person and/or persons whom handle any of the items, documents and process of the items you are seeking records on/or of. We are in the process of compiling said data and a response will be sent to you as it is available.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me or Detective Sergeant Jose Jimenez at jimenez@cityofbell.org<mailto:jimenez@cityofbell.org>.

Respectfully Submitted,

Esbeyda Pimentel
Police Records Supervisor
Bell Police Department
6326 Pine Avenue
Bell CA 90201
323-923-1564

Dear Esbeyda Pimentel,

Thank you so much for your response to my Public Records Act request for purchase and deployment records for certain types of equipment used by Bell PD. I really appreciate it.

The cover letter in the response states that "The Bell Police Department has zero uses of force records of deployment by our agency." However, please note that my request was not restricted to deployments with *uses of force*, but requested "Records of deployment by your agency since January 1, 2020 of projectile launch platforms..."

If there are no responsive records for *all* deployments of this equipment, please let me know. If you have responsive records of non-use-of force deployments but are withholding them, please also let me know, and the basis for the withholding.

Thank you in advance for your effort!

best,
John Lindsay-Poland

Hello Supervisor Pimentel,

I just left voicemail with you on this - thanks again for all your help answering our PRA request. My supervisor, John Lindsay-Poland, had spoken with Sgt. Jimenez on December 9, and the Sergeant said he'd ask you to send over the deployment records. Could you help send those to us? Thanks again,

Jennifer Tu
American Friends Service Committee