Emails Concerning Michael Brown Unrest
| Submitted | Oct. 24, 2014 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Joshua Eaton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140/1 to 11), I hereby request the following records:
Any and all emails between Superintendent Garry McCarthy or his assistants and law-enforcement officials in Missouri concerning possible unrest in the wake of a grand jury decision not to indict Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown, as described here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/07/us-usa-missouri-shooting-plans-idUSKCN0HW1TF20141007
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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,
Joshua Eaton
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: FOIA
Mr. Eaton,
The Department is in receipt of the below FOIA request. At this time, we are working with the Superintendent's office to determine if any records exists that are responsive to your inquiry. We hope to have a response to you soon.
Sgt. Linas
This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering that message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited.
From: FOIA
Mr. Eaton,
Please see the attached reponse to your FOIA request.
Thank you
This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering that message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited.
From: Joshua Eaton
Dear Sgt. Linas,
What additional information, not provided in my original request, does your office need from me in order to conduct an email search?
My original email requested:
Any and all emails between Superintendent Garry McCarthy or his assistants and law-enforcement officials in Missouri concerning possible unrest in the wake of a grand jury decision not to indict Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown, as described here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/07/us-usa-missouri-shooting-plans-idUSKCN0HW1TF20141007
I'm happy to amend that request, if helpful.
Sincerely,
Joshua Eaton
From: FOIA
Mr. Eaton,
As suggested in the response letter, some measures to narrow the scope of the request would include specifying a date range, such as "from October of 2014" or "from 22 September to present," providing a list of search terms, such as "Ferguson" or "civil unrest" or "grand jury," specifying the CPD officials whose email accounts you wish to have searched, such as "the Superintendent and his Chief of Staff" or "the Superintendent's administrative staff" or "First Deputy Wysinger."
If you have any further questions please do not hesitate to contact our office.
Thank you,
Sgt. Melinda Linas
This message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is PRIVILEGED, CONFIDENTIAL AND EXEMPT FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER APPLICABLE LAW. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering that message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited.
From: Joshua Eaton
Dear Sgt. Linas,
I am writing in response to your email dated Nov. 19, 2014 concerning my previous FOIA request. I would like to amend my previous request as follows:
- Any and all emails between (a) Superintendent Garry McCarthy, the Superintendent's administrative staff, the Superintendent's Chief of Staff, and First Deputy Wysinger and (b) law-enforcement officials in Missouri concerning possible unrest in the wake of a grand jury decision not to indict Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown, as described here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/07/us-usa-missouri-shooting-plans-idUSKCN0HW1TF20141007. Please limit your search to the dates between Aug. 9, 2014 and Dec. 3, 2014, inclusive. Search terms include "Ferguson," "Missouri," "St. Louis," "Michael Brown," "Mike Brown," "Darren Wilson," "civil unrest," "grand jury," and "indictment."
Please let me know whether this request is sufficiently narrow or whether I need to limit it further in order for you to proceed.
Thank you for your time and help.
Sincerely,
Joshua Eaton
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thank you for your help.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 24, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: FOIA
Dear Mr. Eaton,
The undersigned was assigned to process your request.
Dear Sgt. Linas,
I am writing in response to your email dated Nov. 19, 2014 concerning my previous FOIA request. I would like to amend my previous request as follows:
- Any and all emails between (a) Superintendent Garry McCarthy, the Superintendent's administrative staff, the Superintendent's Chief of Staff, and First Deputy Wysinger and (b) law-enforcement officials in Missouri concerning possible unrest in the wake of a grand jury decision not to indict Ferguson, Mo. police officer Darren Wilson for the shooting death of Michael Brown, as described here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/07/us-usa-missouri-shooting-plans-idUSKCN0HW1TF20141007. Please limit your search to the dates between Aug. 9, 2014 and Dec. 3, 2014, inclusive. Search terms include "Ferguson," "Missouri," "St. Louis," "Michael Brown," "Mike Brown," "Darren Wilson," "civil unrest," "grand jury," and "indictment."
Please let me know whether this request is sufficiently narrow or whether I need to limit it further in order for you to proceed.
Thank you for your time and help.
Sincerely,
Joshua Eaton
I forwarded your request to the Department's Public Safety Information Technology Unit. Based upon the parameters provided a search of Department emails was conducted. The search revealed 3702 emails in response to your request.
To satisfy this request, it would require several steps. First, without knowing exactly how many pages each email consist of, even just assuming that each email may consist of a minimum of 5 pages, it is estimated that over 18,000 pages would have to be printed and scanned, that alone would take over several hundreds of hours. Second, the each single page would have to be reviewed, redacted and recopied. The pages would “require examination and evaluation by personnel having the necessary competence and discretion to determine if they are exempt from disclosure under Section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act or should be revealed only with appropriate deletions,” in accordance with the Act.
The CPD has reviewed and redacted these types of files in the past, and estimates it takes a minimum of 8 hours to properly redact approximately 100 pages of these documents. In addition, these redactions may only be done by individuals with knowledge and experience with police files. Therefore, it is estimated that the Department would need over 180 days to process your request.
For the reasons stated above, it is necessary for your request to be narrowed. If you would like assistance in narrowing your request, you may contact me by phone at (312) 745-5308, by email or by mail at the following address:
Chicago Police Department
Attn: Freedom of Information
Office of Legal Affairs, Unit 114
3510 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60653
If you decide to narrow your request, please submit a revised request to the undersigned by email. Please be sure to reference your FOIA File number of 15-5939 in order to avoid any duplication of work or miscommunication.
Olivia Medina
Public Information Officer
Office of Legal Affairs, Unit 114
312-745-5308
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