Columbus Ohio ShotSpotter (Mayor's Office)

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If you have any further questions or concerns, please email or contact us at 614-645-3111, Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm.

Regards,
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Information provided to 311 is subject to Ohio's public records law and may be subject to release if requested.

Thank you for contacting the 311 Service Center. On your behalf, we have forwarded your email to the appropriate department for processing.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please email or contact us at 614-645-3111, Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm.

Regards,
311 Service Center/mb

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Information provided to 311 is subject to Ohio's public records law and may be subject to release if requested.

Thank you for contacting the 311 Service Center. The original request was forwarded to the Department of Public Safety.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please email or contact us at 614-645-3111, Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.

Regards,
311 Service Center/sjs

[cid:image009.jpg@01D5CAD7.5D415600]

1410 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211
Direct: 614-645-3111

www.columbus.gov<https://www.columbus.gov/>/neighborhoods

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***Information provided to 311 is subject to Ohio's public records law and may be subject to release if requested***

Thank you for following up. ShotSpotter falls under the Department of Public Safety, who would be able to provide you with the requested information. However, per your request, we have also forwarded your request to the Mayor's Office.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please email or contact us at 614-645-3111, Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.

Regards,
311 Service Center/sjs

[cid:image009.jpg@01D5CAD7.5D415600]

1410 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211
Direct: 614-645-3111

www.columbus.gov<https://www.columbus.gov/>/neighborhoods

[Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:icon-facebook.png]<https://www.facebook.com/cbusneighbor> [Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:icon-twitter.png] <https://twitter.com/cbusneighbor>

***Information provided to 311 is subject to Ohio's public records law and may be subject to release if requested***

Hi Benjamin.

I received communications from you to our 311 office. I understand there was a records request regarding ShotSpotter. We do not keep the records you requested here in the Mayor's Office. I forwarded it to Columbus Division of Police. I understand that they filled your request.

If that is not the case, please let me know.

Be well,

Robin Davis

Robin Davis
Director of Media Relations
___________________________________________

[cid:image001.jpg@01D16AFF.24A5DEB0]
Mayor's Office
90 W. Broad Street, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Direct: 614-645-2425
Cell: 614-369-5613
www.columbus.gov<http://www.columbus.gov/>

[Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:icon-facebook.png] [Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:icon-twitter.png] [Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:youtube.png]

Hi Ben.

Thanks for the email.

All of the documents you have asked for would be held by the Columbus Division of Police. I believe they have provided you with all of the documents responsive to your requests.

The Mayor's Office has nothing responsive.

Be well,

Robin

Dear MuckRock,

Although ShotSpotter data is proprietary and does not belong to the Division of Police, our Department of Public Safety was able to locate the info you are seeking.

Statements regarding ShotSpotter from the 2019 Annual Report are based on the attached memo from March 2020.

I hope this is helpful and addresses any questions you might have.

Sincerely,

Robin Davis

From: requests@muckrock.com [mailto:requests@muckrock.com]
Sent: Monday, May 3, 2021 5:00 AM
To: Davis, Robin C. <RCDavis@columbus.gov>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: Ohio Open Records Law Request: Columbus Ohio ShotSpotter (Mayor's Office)

Mayor's Office
Ohio Open Records Law Office
90 West Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215

May 3, 2021

This is a follow up to a previous request:

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Ohio Open Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 18, 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.

View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 109863
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.

---

On April 18, 2021:
Subject: RE: Ohio Open Records Law Request: Columbus Ohio ShotSpotter (Mayor's Office)
Hi Robin,

I want to make sure I understand your response correctly, in the context of the response given by the Columbus Division of Police.

The Division of Police employee responding to my FOIA request there wrote:

> I have also read the 2019 annual report and have not found any data in it to suggest that ShotSpotter is an effective tool. The times that ShotSpotter is mentioned are all vague and have no information from which I can pull reports or data. I believe that the Public Safety Director and the Chief were commenting on trends that they have personally seen and not any kind of data that I can provide.

The Division of Police has not found any "reports on the deployment, use and/or efficacy of ShotSpotter in 2019 and 2020". You're telling me that the Mayor's Office also does not have such information.

From this lack of reports or data, the Mayor's Office issued the 2019 Annual Report, which said:

> 2019 saw the implementation of ShotSpotter in three (3) selected pilot project neighborhoods with very positive results. ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection system that will notify law enforcement of gunfire even faster than residents in the area can contact authorities. The system, strategically deployed across nine square miles of the city during the first quarter of 2019 has proven to be an effective tool in identifying and reducing response times to gunfire.

If the Mayor's Office didn't receive any reports from the Division of Police about ShotSpotter, and the Mayor's Office itself didn't perform that analysis, then is there some other department that would have conducted research into the efficacy of the ShotSpotter program, which would have made the determination in the 2019 Annual Report? Or has Columbus even checked to see if the ShotSpotter program is effective?

I'm trying to understand where the determination in the 2019 Annual Report came from, but so far, it looks like there's no source, and no evidence to justify the program. I'm hoping that that's not the case, and that you'll be able to help me find any data to back up the assessment. If there's other departments I should talk to, please let me know which ones.

Thanks,
Benjamin Keith
---

On April 9, 2021:
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Ohio Open Records Law Request: Columbus Ohio ShotSpotter (Mayor's Office)
Hi Ben.

Thanks for the email.

All of the documents you have asked for would be held by the Columbus Division of Police. I believe they have provided you with all of the documents responsive to your requests.

The Mayor's Office has nothing responsive.

Be well,

Robin
---

On April 9, 2021:
Subject: RE: Ohio Open Records Law Request: Columbus Ohio ShotSpotter (Mayor's Office)
Hi Robin,

The Columbus Division of Police did reply with some records regarding ShotSpotter activations. I'm hoping that the Mayor's office can provide me other records, specifically the second and third points of the request:

2. All policy documents and manuals related to the use of ShotSpotter
3. All reports on the deployment, use and/or efficacy of ShotSpotter in 2019 and 2020, including but not limited to those used to write the 2019 Annual Report determining that ShotSpotter is "an effective tool"

The Mayor's Office 2019 Annual Report said that ShotSpotter "has proven to be an effective tool in identifying and reducing response times to gunfire", and so at minimum I would expect that there would be records of the conversation leading up to that determination, as well as reports that justify the City's continued contract with ShotSpotter after the 2019 trial. Has the Mayor's office received any communications or documents from the Department of Public Safety or the City Attorney regarding ShotSpotter?

Does this help clarify what records would be responsive to this request?

Thanks,

Ben Keith
---

On April 7, 2021:
Subject: Records request
Hi Benjamin.

I received communications from you to our 311 office. I understand there was a records request regarding ShotSpotter. We do not keep the records you requested here in the Mayor's Office. I forwarded it to Columbus Division of Police. I understand that they filled your request.

If that is not the case, please let me know.

Be well,

Robin Davis

Robin Davis
Director of Media Relations
___________________________________________

[cid:image001.jpg@01D16AFF.24A5DEB0]
Mayor's Office
90 W. Broad Street, 2nd Floor
Columbus, OH 43215
Direct: 614-645-2425
Cell: 614-369-5613
www.columbus.gov@@http://www.columbus.gov/%3E

[Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:icon-facebook.png] [Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:icon-twitter.png] [Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:youtube.png]

---

On April 7, 2021:
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] RE: Ohio Open Records Law Request: Columbus Ohio ShotSpotter (Mayor's Office)
Thank you for following up. ShotSpotter falls under the Department of Public Safety, who would be able to provide you with the requested information. However, per your request, we have also forwarded your request to the Mayor's Office.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please email or contact us at 614-645-3111, Monday through Friday between 8am and 5pm.

Regards,
311 Service Center/sjs

[cid:image009.jpg@01D5CAD7.5D415600]

1410 Cleveland Avenue
Columbus, OH 43211
Direct: 614-645-3111

www.columbus.gov<https://www.columbus.gov/%3E/neighborhoods

[Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:icon-facebook.png]<https://www.facebook.com/cbusneighbor@@ [Macintosh HD:Users:jtaguiam:Desktop:icon-twitter.png] <https://twitter.com/cbusneighbor><https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/twitter.com/cbusneighbor*3E__;JQ!!J-4R7rTSYA!OQURFSCJ8-W_p7h5V1B7snvKgzIoIfYvUvZojZeNhgAqyxmvAnspL2LAWNMMSI7UL5I$>

***Information provided to 311 is subject to Ohio's public records law and may be subject to release if requested***

---

On March 18, 2021:
Subject: Ohio Open Records Law Request: Columbus Ohio ShotSpotter (Mayor's Office)
To Whom It May Concern:

The 2019 City of Columbus Annual Report (https://www.columbus.gov/council/information/2019-city-of-columbus-annual-report/) included the following paragraph: "2019 saw the implementation of ShotSpotter in three (3) selected pilot project neighborhoods with very positive results. ShotSpotter is a gunshot detection system that will notify law enforcement of gunfire even faster than residents in the area can contact authorities. The system, strategically deployed across nine square miles of the city during the first quarter of 2019 has proven to be an effective tool in identifying and reducing response times to gunfire."

Pursuant to the Ohio Open Records Law, I hereby request the following records related to Columbus' use of ShotSpotter:

1. Copies of ShotSpotter reports for all ShotSpotter activations and detection events in Columbus, Ohio during all quarters of 2019 and 2020
2. All policy documents and manuals related to the use of ShotSpotter
3. All reports on the deployment, use and/or efficacy of ShotSpotter in 2019 and 2020, including but not limited to those used to write the 2019 Annual Report determining that ShotSpotter is "an effective tool"

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 or USB drive 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,

Benjamin Keith

View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here:
https://www.muckrock.com/

Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com

For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 109863
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516

PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
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