Sheriff Data Collection Request (2016-2020)

Samuel Sinyangwe filed this request with the Buncombe County Sheriff of Buncombe County, NC.
Submitted Jan. 28, 2023
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Samuel Sinyangwe

Subject: North Carolina Public Records Law Request: Sheriff Data Collection Request (2016-2020)

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the North Carolina Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year, from 2016-2020 (for example, 302 use of force incidents in 2016, 287 use of force incidents in 2017, etc.)

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used from 2016-2020 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2016, baton incidents in 2016, etc.). Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in each year were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

When available, I would appreciate being sent individualized data for each item in this request in spreadsheet format. If individualized data are unavailable, please send information that includes aggregate statistics for the item instead.

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.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

From: Buncombe County Sheriff

Subject: Re: North Carolina Public Records Law Request: Sheriff Data Collection Request (2016-2020)

Email

Hello MuckRock News,

I believe this data below fulfills your request.

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year, from 2016-2020 (for example, 302 use of force incidents in 2016, 287 use of force incidents in 2017, etc.)

2016 - 75

2017 - 134

2018 - 73

2019 - 77

2020 - 98

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used from 2016-2020 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2016, baton incidents in 2016, etc.). Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in each year were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

Buncombe County Sheriff's Office Use of Force 2016-2020

Detention and Enforcement Enforcement Only Detention Only
Use of Force 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 7/2019-12/2019 2020
Canine 4 4 1 2 0 0 0
Baton 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Hands/Feet 20 49 27 15 11 15 47
Handgun 3 6 6 7 5 0 0
Rifle 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
Taser 42 51 25 15 17 11 8
Impact Weapon 0 0 1 1 0 0 0
Less Lethal Munition 0 2 0 1 0 0 0
Chemical Aerosol 0 0 0 3 0 1
None 4 10 3 2 2 1 4
Other 2 2 8 3 0 0 4

Total 75 134 73 49 35 28 63

Detention and Enforcement numbers are combined through July of 2019. After that they were separate. Year 2019 in
blue consist of the entire year of enforcement Uses of Force plus the January through July Detention Uses of Force

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Sheriff's Office Total 75 134 73 77 98

Aaron

[cid:eee4e5db-2055-4ab4-9734-029e50cc5e3a]

Aaron Sarver

Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office,

Public Affairs Director

p. (828) 250-4414 c. (828) 713-0452

60 Court Plaza, 4th Floor - Asheville, NC 28801

21st Century Policing. Procedural Justice.

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