Pennsylvania police data request (Bethlehem Police Department)
| Multi Request | Pennsylvania police data request |
| Submitted | July 16, 2021 |
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Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2019, 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 2013-2020, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, 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 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.
7. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-20 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
8. the total amount of money paid out in lawsuits and settlements relating to allegations of police misconduct per year from 2013-20. This includes copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department and the outcome of lawsuits brought against the city's police department including any financial settlement occurring from 2013-20. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department. This request includes any documents compiled quarterly, annually, or in other increments as well as any documents or databases that contain responsive information.
If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.
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,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Pennsylvania Right to Know Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 16, 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: Bethlehem Police Department
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe:
I returned to the office today from vacation to find an open records request from you dated July 19 and an identical follow-up request dated July 23 seeking Bethlehem Police Department information.
First, I want to acknowledge receipt of this request. Second, I would hope that you received my out-of-office message that should have advised you of my vacation. Additionally, I would like to advise you that while I respond from the email assigned to me by the City, it is best to make requests through righttoknowrequest@bethlehem-pa.gov. This email address is noted on our request forms and our website and is the preferred address where requests should be sent in cases of illness, vacation, etc. For the most expeditious response, I would suggest using this email address in the future when making requests. This email address is monitored by others in the Law Bureau who can carry out my duties in my absence.
That being said, we can begin searching records to meet your request today. Because of the unfortunate delay, we would ask for your patience as we conduct this search and prepare your response. You will likely recall that we were cooperative in meeting a similar request last August.
Very truly yours,
Tad Miller
Tad J. Miller
Open Records Officer
Legal Assistant
City of Bethlehem
Solicitor's Office
10 East Church Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-865-7011
610-865-7205 (fax)
From: Bethlehem Police Department
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe:
As I advised you on Monday, we have begun our efforts to meet your request for data about the Bethlehem Police Department. As to No. 8, essentially seeking information about lawsuits, settlements, etc. related to alleged police misconduct, last year we received a request from an apparent colleague of yours at MuckRock, Beryl Lipton, that seems to us to be very similar to your No. 8. I have attached the spreadsheet provided in response. We believe that this document comes the closest to meeting your request. I propose updating this spreadsheet with any related lawsuits that have been brought against the City since - if any - and updating the status of any of those suits already listed if the outcome has been decided (settled, adjudicated, etc.) Would this be acceptable to you in meeting No. 8?
Very truly yours,
Tad Miller
Tad J. Miller
Open Records Officer
Legal Assistant
City of Bethlehem
Solicitor's Office
10 East Church Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-865-7011
610-865-7205 (fax)
-
RTK re Police Cases
From: Bethlehem Police Department
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe:
Attached please find the initial response to your request.
Very truly yours,
Tad Miller
Tad J. Miller
Open Records Officer
Legal Assistant
City of Bethlehem
Solicitor's Office
10 East Church Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-865-7011
610-865-7205 (fax)
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Pennsylvania Right to Know Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 16, 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: Bethlehem Police Department
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe:
I received your follow-up August 17, 2021 email regarding your open records request for police information submitted on July 26. This request is on extension under Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law. You were advised on August 2 that the City was invoking its right to an extension of up to 30 additional calendar days as it continues to work toward meeting your request. This effort continues. We will notify you when your response is complete.
Very truly yours,
Tad Miller
Tad J. Miller
Open Records Officer
Legal Assistant
City of Bethlehem
Solicitor's Office
10 East Church Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-865-7011
610-865-7205 (fax)
From: Bethlehem Police Department
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe,
Attached please find the City of Bethlehem's response to your RTK Request which was received by our office on July 26, 2021 and for which we took the 30-day extension as per the RTK Law in order to process this complex request.
Thank you for your patience.
Best,
Nicole
Nicole Burrell
Legal Assistant
City of Bethlehem
10 E. Church Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
p: 610-997-7613
e: NBurrell@bethlehem-pa.gov
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