Ring, Brownsville, TX

Caroline Haskins filed this request with the Brownsville Police Department of Brownsville, TX.
Submitted Dec. 16, 2019
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Caroline Haskins

Subject: Texas Public Information Act Request: Ring, Brownsville, TX

Mail


To Whom It May Concern:

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

Public reports state that this police department has partnered with Ring, Amazon’s home security company. (https://blog.ring.com/2019/08/28/working-together-for-safer-neighborhoods-introducing-the-neighbors-active-law-enforcement-map/) Ring offers a variety of home security devices, including doorbell cameras. Ring's partnerships with law enforcement involve an exchange: Law enforcement gets access to Ring’s “Law Enforcement Portal,”a tool that lets police request Ring camera footage. Ring also offers Neighbors, a "neighborhood watch" app.

Therefore, I hereby request the following records:

1) All instructional materials, presentations and presentation materials (including recorded video and audio, PowerPoint files, prepared remarks, and slides formats), and other guidance on the use of Ring devices and/or the Neighbors app. This includes A) any notes taken during meetings that discussed the use of Ring devices and/or the Neighbors app, B) any explanations (whether internally or externally generated) of how Ring devices and/or the Neighbors app work, and C) any other document that has been used to help explain the use of Ring devices and/or the Neighbors app to any party, including internal documentation, public relations materials, and executive summaries.

2) A copy of any privacy impact assessments, use policies, standard operating procedures, data retention policies, legal opinions, warranties, non-disclosure agreements, contracts, liability waivers, insurance agreements, Requests for Proposals, Responses to Requests for Proposal, Memorandums of Understanding, Letters of Interest, usage policies, or informal agreements between the police department and Ring.

3) A copy of any funding opportunity announcements, grant applications and grantor status/progress reports, reports to legislative bodies, annual reports that mention Ring or the Neighbors app, as well as audit records, including but not limited to security audits of the software, misuse reports, and reports to oversight bodies.

4) Any digital communications including but not limited to emails and text messages) as well as documents, (including but not limited to PDF, word processing, excel, and slide documents) that mention Ring or the Neighbors app.

5) Any digital communications (including but not limited to emails and text messages) with Ring representatives.

Please try to include any other miscellaneous documents that facilitate this police department's relationship with Ring that don't neatly fall neatly into the above categories.

The requested documents will be used in the course of reporting for BuzzFeed News, therefore, I request that all fees are waived in the processing of this request.

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,

Caroline Haskins

From: Brownsville Police Department

Subject: Attn: Caroline Haskins

Email

Dear Muck Rock:

This letter is in response to your request for information to the Brownsville Police Records Department regarding Ring, Brownsville, TX

1. Instructional materials, presentations and materials
2. Impact assessments
3. Funding
4. Digital communications that mention Ring or the Neighbors app.
5. Digital communications with Ring

The City of Brownsville has reviewed its files and has located the enclosed documents that are responsive to your request. Although the Public Information Act allows a governmental body to charge for copying documents, the enclosed is being provided to you at no charge.

Please see the enclosed responsive document(s) as per your reqeust.

Best Regards,

Norma J. Alvear
Administrative Supervisor
City of Brownsville Police Department
600 E. Jackson Street, Brownsville, TX 78520
Tel: 956 548-7118 Fax: 956 548-7115
openrecordsrequest@brownsvilletx.gov

CITY OF BROWNSVILLE PRIVACY NOTICE: This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and contains information that may be privileged, confidential or exempt from disclosure under applicable federal or state law. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient or the employee or agent responsible for delivering the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, contact the sender and delete the original and all copies from any computer. Any views or opinions expressed in this message are those of the individual sender and not necessarily those of the City of Brownsville.

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