Ben Burns (aka Benjamin Bernstein) Police Files
| Tracking # |
P646449-032321 |
| Submitted | March 17, 2021 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Claudia Lopez
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act., I hereby request the following records:
The police files - including the Chicago Police Red Squad Files - and any public and/or is declassified files on Ben Burn (born Benjamin Bernstein), the American pioneering editor of black publications (including the Chicago Daily Defender, Ebony, Jet and Negro Digest) and a public relations executive in Chicago. Deceased 2000.
In addition to the public files on Mr. Burns, I am also interested photos, correspondence, surveillance, audio recordings, video, meeting notes, etc,. related to him.
Date range of request: 1945 - 1975.
Requesting information on behalf of One Story Up Productions LLC, with the intention of using the files as research for a documentary film.
Burn's Obituary: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2000-02-02-0002020243-story.html
See page 11 for full obituary
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 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Claudia Lopez
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,
Claudia Lopez
From: Chicago Police Department
Dear Claudia:
Thank you for your interest in information from the Chicago Police Department. Your FOIA request has been received and is being processed. Your FOIA Center reference number for tracking purposes is: P646449-032321
You have requested the following records: The police files - including the Chicago Police Red Squad Files - and any public and/or is declassified files on Ben Burn (born Benjamin Bernstein), the American pioneering editor of black publications (including the Chicago Daily Defender, Ebony, Jet and Negro Digest) and a public relations executive in Chicago. Deceased 2000.
In addition to the public files on Mr. Burns, I am also interested photos, correspondence, surveillance, audio recordings, video, meeting notes, etc,. related to him.
Date range of request: 1945 - 1975...*(See attached)
Chicago Police Department (CPD) responds to all public records requests in accordance with the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 ILCS 140/1 et seq. If further time is needed to assemble and copy all documents responsive to your FOIA request, we will contact you with a time estimate and a request to extend. You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you’ll receive an email when your request has been completed. Thank you for using the Chicago FOIA Center.
To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the Chicago Public Safety Record System. (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HQBImk7-2Bynhw89FmPm6yuaWA2VNOGXqkGvBvgX8E6PTU-2FTGLLeihSKa-2FZeOfyYT8S6uiIxgkDh54LOw4Q3OqPGZ1T64K6zcTnEdeZJM8FBjReJuu_chZEURnJOsayYfLIkgpJKvBTVs38qFA4Sr0J9jYkeBuMEb2E4TeiUCQL7nY2kGNx4Z9xnWwdLJiRCXwuKbrfh-2B0MfcmnSiEQY9O-2B03y0dOrtz2ISgMbrkQxO7pjcvtX9lc2jT9sbNcOP6q10BRNYr5rokjuN4tSEbYYTPK-2BU3CAOjDKBnsv4bhW7aqw-2FNgDuhcRFRaTbdmSQBTiMO5wTOx4-2FnQT3IqWPxjq8iAR0n1ZTdPvBkjRqztu-2B-2BqB-2FwKPhld791iVSpJejfzBlqZD6Wd-2Bv-2B1CqX8-2B2BAqIOjoaQmk-2B1OUut6-2BWWaBqvHKwPC1THc4bW4V6c2PVVqbaA7ChHRS3nrQu7WZMC741-2Ba-2Fd9JxuagRdRxo-2BObtldg-2F1JbC7Ezx-2BT2k-2B9-2BkNu1rex81FZQ-3D-3D)
From: Chicago Police Department
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From: Chicago Police Department
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04/05/2021
HICAGO OLICE EPARTMENT
CITY OF CHICAGO
Claudia Lopez
RE: FOIA REQUEST of March 22, 2021, Reference # P646449-032321
Dear Claudia Lopez:
The Chicago Police Department is in receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. On March 22, 2021, the following request was received. The police files - including the Chicago Police Red Squad Files - and any public and/or is declassified files on Ben Burn (born Benjamin Bernstein), the American pioneering editor of black publications (including the Chicago Daily Defender, Ebony, Jet and Negro Digest) and a public relations executive in Chicago. Deceased 2000.
In addition to the public files on Mr. Burns, I am also interested photos, correspondence, surveillance, audio recordings, video, meeting notes, etc,. related to him.
Date range of request: 1945 - 1975...*(See attached)
Be advised that your request was interpreted as seeking all available case reports associated with the named individual listed in your search parameters. In addition, you seek any responsive photographs, letters, surveillance and body-worn camera/in-car camera video associated with this individual. Be advised that a search, based on the information provided in the request, has produced no records. In fact, the full name you provided, with no date of birth, along with the shortened version of the name was searched in CPD's databases for any responsive records as an offender and non-offender and no positive results returned. Please note that while you mentioned outside materials for CPD to reference, CPD is not obligated to use third-party data to conduct a reasonable search. In addition, CPD is not obligated to speculate as to the intent of a FOIA request, as well as conduct research, nor go beyond the four corners of a request. Please note that the FOIA requires the City to provide existing documents, according to Section 5 ILCS 140/3(a) (Each public body shall make available all public records, except as otherwise provided in section 7 of this act). The FOIA does not require the public body to create new records, conduct research, analyze data, interpret, answer questions or advise requesters as to the meaning or significance of public records. Therefore, there is no responsive record(s) to your request.
If you have any questions, please contact our office at 312-745-5308 or at the following address: Chicago Police Department Attention: Freedom of Information Officer Office of Legal Affairs, Unit 114 3510 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60653
Sincerely, Richard Carrillo
Freedom of Information Officer
Chicago Police Department
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