Des Moines IA, PD Citizen Complaints

Brandi Ramus filed this request with the Des Moines Police Department of Des Moines, IA.

It is a clone of this request.

Submitted Oct. 3, 2021
Due Feb. 21, 2022
Est. Completion None
Status
Awaiting Response

Communications

From: Brandi Ramus

Subject: Iowa Open Records Law Request: Des Moines IA, PD Citizen Complaints

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Iowa Open Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am doing research on police behavior and citizen complaints. This project requires me to request data from your department. If you have questions about my request or suggestions, I would be happy to discuss them with you.

1. What is the total number of citizen complaints (allegations of misconduct) made against your department’s officers annually for the last 10 years? If your department logs complaints in a database, spreadsheet, or other log, a copy of those logs is fine instead.

Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).

2. What is the total number of complaints police officers made against their peer officers in department annually for the last 10 years? If your department logs complaints in a database, spreadsheet, or other log, a copy of those logs is fine instead.

Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).

3. What is the total number of calls for service your department received annually for the past 10 years? If your department logs calls for service in a database, spreadsheet, or other log, a copy of those logs is fine instead.

4. What is the annual number of officers involved in shootings in your department for the past 10 years? Any documentation or reports that detail the annual number of officer-involved shootings in your department for the past 10 years would be sufficient.

Please include documentation regarding how many of these officer-involved shootings involved disciplinary action. (Please list officer firearm discharge directed at a person separately from a shooting involving an animal and separately from accidental firearm discharges).

Please include the number of officer-involved shootings resulting in discipline.

5. Which of the above data are published publicly? Please provide a link to any and all publicly available reports containing the data above.

Collecting this information is very important to my research, so I would like to emphasize, if you have questions about my request or suggestions, I would be happy to discuss them with you.

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, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Brandi Ramus

From: Des Moines Police Department

Subject: Re: Iowa Open Records Law Request: Des Moines IA, PD Citizen Complaints

Email

Good morning,

Reviewing this request, we do not have documents that meet your specific request. Compiling this information will require a dedicated effort and will require fees.

We may have documents available that contain some of the information requested. Is there a phone number where you can be reached to discuss?
Thanks,

Paul

From: Brandi Ramus

Subject: RE: Iowa Open Records Law Request: Des Moines IA, PD Citizen Complaints

Fax

Hello.

To lessen the amount of effort, I can request fewer items.

I would like to focus my request on these three items:

1. What is the total number of citizen complaints (allegations of misconduct) made against your department’s officers annually for the last 10 years? If your department logs complaints in a database, spreadsheet, or other log, a copy of those logs is fine instead. Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).

2. What is the total number of complaints police officers made against their peer officers in department annually for the last 10 years? If your department logs complaints in a database, spreadsheet, or other log, a copy of those logs is fine instead.
Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).

3. Which of the above data are published publicly? Please provide a link to any and all publicly available reports containing the data above.

Similar information was requested back in 2017 and a spreadsheet was provided.
Collecting this information is very important to my research, so I would like to emphasize, if you have questions about my request or suggestions, I would be happy to discuss them with you.

Brandi Ramus
(515) 745-4515

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