Sheriff Data Collection Request (2021)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
Pursuant to RCW 42.56.520, this will acknowledge receipt of a public records request dated 10/30/2022 and received in this office on 10/30/2022. Please note that this response is solely to your request for inspection and/or copying of public records.
Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used in 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, 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.

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2021, both fatal and non-fatal.

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.

Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints alleging police misconduct, please do not include complaints filed by one officer/the department against another officer.

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,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
We note at the outset that the Sheriff’s Office is the chief law enforcement agency for Cowlitz County, and does not possess or maintain public records of the/for other elected officials of Cowlitz County or any other department of the County other than the Cowlitz Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force.  When this Office responds to a PRA request, it would be responding for these offices, only. This Office does not accept PRA requests which should be directed to these other entities and agencies contrary to any direction provided to you by another department or official or government. Departments and other local governments must separately respond to PRA requests pursuant to the availability of their own records and their own PRA practices. As such, we recommend that you independently direct a copy of your PRA request to any other department or official or government that you believe are in possession of any responsive records.
This office estimates that it will take approximately 5 business days to identify, locate, review your request and provide a response. However, we will provide a response sooner, if possible.
Cowlitz County Sheriffs Office

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OWLITZ OUNTY S HERIFF’S FFICE Since 1854 Sheriff Brad Thurman

November 01, 2022
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of October 30, 2022, Reference # S009728-103022

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,

The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office received a public records request from you on October 30, 2022. You requested the following: "To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used in 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, 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.

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2021, both fatal and non-fatal.

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.

Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints alleging police misconduct, please do not include complaints filed by one officer/the department against another officer.

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,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Our procedure is to locate records, review them for exemptions, and then prepare them for your inspection and/or copying.
We reasonably believe that public records  responsive to this request will be available on or before January 31, 2023, which will give us  time to locate, gather, and process all responsive documents.  If public records become available in advance of this estimate we will contact you promptly.  Conversely, if the County encounters a need to extend our estimate, we will contact you with a revised estimated date.
Please contact our office if you have any questions at 360-577-3095 or sheriffrecords@co.cowlitz.wa.us (mailto:sheriffrecords@co.cowlitz.wa.us) .

Sincerely, Julie Harris Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Records Manager (360) 577-3095

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OWLITZ OUNTY S HERIFF’S FFICE Since 1854 Sheriff Brad Thurman

December 08, 2022
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of October 30, 2022, Reference # S009728-103022

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,

The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office received a public records request from you on October 30, 2022.

Your request mentioned: "To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used in 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, 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.

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2021, both fatal and non-fatal.

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.

Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints alleging police misconduct, please do not include complaints filed by one officer/the department against another officer.

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,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office doesn't currently have a database with the information that you are requesting. “The [PRA] does not require agencies to research or explain public records, but only to make those records accessible to the public.”  Smith v. Okanogan County, 100 Wn. App. 7, 12, 994 P.2d 857 (2000).  If you would like to make a request for specific documents/records that our agency holds please advise.  We will leave your request open for 10 days.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office possess and maintains public records for our office and the Cowlitz
Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force. When this office responds to a PRA request, we respond for these offices only. This office does not accept PRA requests which should be directed to other entities and agencies. Other departments and other local government agencies must respond separately to PRA requests for their records. We suggest you independently direct a copy of your PRA request to any other department, official or government agency which you believe has responsive records.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact our office at 360-577-3095 or sheriffrecords@co.cowlitz.wa.us. (mailto:sheriffrecords@co.cowlitz.wa.us)

Sincerely, Julie Harris Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Records Manager (360) 577-3095

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OWLITZ OUNTY S HERIFF’S FFICE Since 1854 Sheriff Brad Thurman

December 19, 2022
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of October 30, 2022, Reference # S009728-103022

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,

The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office received a public records request from you on October 30, 2022. Your request mentioned: “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used in 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, 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.

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2021, both fatal and non-fatal.

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.

Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints alleging police misconduct, please do not include complaints filed by one officer/the department against another officer.

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,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office has reviewed its files and has determined there are no responsive documents to your request using your provided search terms. Please submit another request if you have additional search terms or any further information to better help us locate documents for you.

Your records request is considered fulfilled and is now closed. Upon receipt of this message this request is no longer being monitored. If you are requesting additional public records please submit a new request, and we will response accordingly. If you have questions pertaining to this request, please contact our public records officer at (360) 577-3020 x6990 or publicrecords@cowlitzwa.gov. Please note: emails responding to this request will not be reviewed. Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely, Julie Harris Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Records Manager (360) 577-3095