Search Warrant Data (Detroit Police Department)
| Multi Request | Search Warrant Data |
| Submitted | Nov. 1, 2019 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: LPL
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
For all search warrants, applications for search warrants, cancellations, and authorization for search warrants between 2012 to the date of processing this request, please provide the following points of record for each:
Full Name of requester
If arrest, arrest ID (eg some cities/states use, "Incident Report")
Reason(s) for search warrant (typically either hand-written, or checkboxes)
Badge ID (or similar) of requester
District/Unit
Name of Judge
Name of approving officer
Whether an Arrest happened
Requested location of search warrant
Location of search warrant execution
Type of search warrant
Statements used to justify search warrant
Time and date when search warrant was submitted for approval
Time and date when search warrant was executed
Whether anything was seized
Whether anything was found
License plate of vehicle (if relevant)
Race of person for search warrant
Age of person for search warrant
State of person for search warrant
Whether an informant was involved
Method of contact with informant leading to search warrant (eg, phone call, mail, fax, email, etc)
Description of person search warrant executed on
Legal code of violation
Description of violation
Date of violation
If search warrant related to debt: name of company debt is owed to, amount owed
Whether FBI involved
ID associated with FBI document (eg, IR #)
Whether search warrant was cancelled
Whether contraband found
Whether narcotics found
The records responsive to this request are likely available in a database, or in some query-able format. If your department or agency does not have direct access to the records, please raise to the respective department that can run queries directly (eg, through SQL).
Should your agency not have all of the requested records within a single record or document, please provide me the relevant documents that do, even if that requires more than one class of document. Should some of the records be unavailable, please let me know ahead of time so that we can narrow the request accordingly.
As the records responsive to this request are imperative for understanding how search warrants are executed, I ask that the public interest of these records be evaluated to the extent that the public's interest outweighs this request's burden. To add, this request is being sent to the largest city of every state and will be collated together to create a comprehensive map of search warrants throughout the US. As such, the records are not only important for understanding search warrants at a local level, but also at a national and state-wide level.
Please ensure that provided documents comply with Section 508, as these records will be shared with members of the public who are covered under the ADA. This guide should be helpful: https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/making-files-accessible/checklist/pdf/index.html
If this request was sent to the wrong department or agency, please let me know so that I can send to the correct place.
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,
Lucy Parsons Labs
From: Detroit Police Department
A fix is required to perfect the request.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Michigan Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 1, 2019. 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.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Michigan Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 1, 2019. 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.
From: Detroit Police Department
Good Morning,
Please see the attached extension letter which was mailed to your attention on November 6, 2019.
Amanda Rakos
Assistant Corporation Counsel
City of Detroit-Law Dept.
Freedom of Information Act Section (FOIA) Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Phone: (313) 237-6673
Email: rakosa@detroitmi.gov<mailto:rakosa@detroitmi.gov>
Website: http://detroitmi.gov/law
WARNING: This communication may include, in whole or in part, information protected by attorney-client privilege, the attorney work product doctrine, the deliberative process privilege, or by other privilege. This communication is intended solely for receipt by the individual or entity to whom it was addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, any use of the communication is neither allowed nor intended. If you received this E-mail in error, please securely delete
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From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Michigan Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 1, 2019. 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.
From: Detroit Police Department
The request has been rejected by the agency.
From: Detroit Police Department
Please see the attached response to the referenced request
Amanda Rakos
Assistant Corporation Counsel
City of Detroit-Law Dept.
Freedom of Information Act Section (FOIA) Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Phone: (313) 237-6673
Email: rakosa@detroitmi.gov<mailto:rakosa@detroitmi.gov>
Website: http://detroitmi.gov/law
WARNING: This communication may include, in whole or in part, information protected by attorney-client privilege, the attorney work product doctrine, the deliberative process privilege, or by other privilege. This communication is intended solely for receipt by the individual or entity to whom it was addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, any use of the communication is neither allowed nor intended. If you received this E-mail in error, please securely delete
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~WRD000
From: LPL
Please review this request as an official appeal for request, A19-10129.
DPD's response states that I did not sufficiently describe the requested "record" that enables the city to locate the records being sought. While it's true that my request is wide in its scope, this request is NOT for a single record that encompasses all of the requested fields. I am requesting a set of records. Should a set of records exist for even one of the points, as it is associated with a search warrant, then I would like to receive that in a machine readable format. Should some of those points be missing or non-existent, then this request could easily still be fulfilled in a way that satisfies the goal of the request.
I am very willing to work with DPD either in narrowing the request, speaking over the phone, emailing, or communicating through any method available to DPD. However, DPD has not given me any opportunity to do so, and has simply rejected this request with a vague and blanket rejection. At the very least, a deeper explanation would be very helpful so that I may submit a new, narrowed request.
In reviewing this request's appeal, please understand that as a member of the general public, I do not have access to the databases that would hold the information pursuant to my request. As such, there is no way for me to know which records exist, hence the wide set of requested record points. If it were possible for me to provide a very specific list of record points, I would have done so. As it stands, their response effectively forces me into a game of battleship with DPD.
Thank you
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Michigan Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Nov. 1, 2019. 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.
From: Detroit Police Department
Dear sir or madam,
I have been in contact with DPD regarding the subject FOIA Appeal. I have been advised that if your request was narrowed, it would be easier to search. However, please be advised that DPD does not maintain a centralized database that contains the records, as requested. DPD has many commands and each would be required to manually search their files for search warrants issues since 2012 along with supporting information.
Is there an area of crime enforcement or year of particular interest to you?
Ericka Savage Whitley
Assistant Corporation Counsel
City of Detroit, Law Department
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 237-3008
savagee@detroitmi.gov<mailto:savagee@detroitmi.gov>
NOTE: Ericka Savage Whitley is an attorney for the City of Detroit. This communication may include, in whole or in part, information protected by the attorney-client privilege, the attorney work product doctrine, the deliberative process privilege, or by any other privilege. This communication is intended solely for receipt and use by the individual or entity to whom it was addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, dissemination, duplication or retention of the communication is neither allowed nor intended. If you are not the intended recipient, please return the communication immediately to Ericka Savage Whitley and notify her immediately at the above e-mail address or telephone number.
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From: Detroit Police Department
Ericka Savage Whitley would like to recall the message, "FOIA Appeal - Muck Rock News Search Warrant Data (A19-10129)".
From: Detroit Police Department
Dear sir or madam,
I have been in contact with DPD regarding the subject FOIA Appeal. I have been advised that if your request was narrowed, it would be easier to search. However, please be advised that DPD does not maintain a centralized database that contains the records, as requested. DPD has many commands and each would be required to manually search their files for search warrants issued since 2012, along with supporting information.
Is there an area of crime enforcement or year of particular interest to you?
Ericka Savage Whitley
Assistant Corporation Counsel
City of Detroit, Law Department
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 237-3008
savagee@detroitmi.gov<mailto:savagee@detroitmi.gov>
NOTE: Ericka Savage Whitley is an attorney for the City of Detroit. This communication may include, in whole or in part, information protected by the attorney-client privilege, the attorney work product doctrine, the deliberative process privilege, or by any other privilege. This communication is intended solely for receipt and use by the individual or entity to whom it was addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, dissemination, duplication or retention of the communication is neither allowed nor intended. If you are not the intended recipient, please return the communication immediately to Ericka Savage Whitley and notify her immediately at the above e-mail address or telephone number.
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From: Detroit Police Department
Hello,
I am following up on this email message below. Please confirm receipt.
Thank you!
Ericka Savage Whitley
Assistant Corporation Counsel
City of Detroit, Law Department
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 237-3008
savagee@detroitmi.gov<mailto:savagee@detroitmi.gov>
NOTE: Ericka Savage Whitley is an attorney for the City of Detroit. This communication may include, in whole or in part, information protected by the attorney-client privilege, the attorney work product doctrine, the deliberative process privilege, or by any other privilege. This communication is intended solely for receipt and use by the individual or entity to whom it was addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, dissemination, duplication or retention of the communication is neither allowed nor intended. If you are not the intended recipient, please return the communication immediately to Ericka Savage Whitley and notify her immediately at the above e-mail address or telephone number.
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From: LPL
Hi - apologies for my slow response.
I am interested in all search warrants, regardless of department, agency, beat, etc. While it may be easier for DPD if the request was narrowed, the importance of the information as a whole to the public's interest far outweighs the burden incurred on the public body. Please consider that the act of consolidating the records holds deep value as well, and as such should be considered when determining whether the burden is in fact is worth it.
Matt
From: Detroit Police Department
Dear Matt,
You indicated in your appeal, "I am very willing to work with DPD either in narrowing the request, speaking over the phone, emailing, or communicating through any method available to DPD." I took that to mean that you would be willing to narrow your request so that the records could be searched more efficiently. DPD does not have a centralized unit that maintains all search warrants. Please confirm if you are willing to narrow your request, in any manner, by the close of business on Friday, March 13. Otherwise, we will process your appeal as written. We did not process your appeal because we gathered from your letter that you would be willing to narrow the scope of the request.
Thank you and enjoy the rest of your day!
Best regards,
Ericka Savage Whitley
Assistant Corporation Counsel
City of Detroit, Law Department
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 237-3008
savagee@detroitmi.gov<mailto:savagee@detroitmi.gov>
NOTE: Ericka Savage Whitley is an attorney for the City of Detroit. This communication may include, in whole or in part, information protected by the attorney-client privilege, the attorney work product doctrine, the deliberative process privilege, or by any other privilege. This communication is intended solely for receipt and use by the individual or entity to whom it was addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, dissemination, duplication or retention of the communication is neither allowed nor intended. If you are not the intended recipient, please return the communication immediately to Ericka Savage Whitley and notify her immediately at the above e-mail address or telephone number.
From: LPL
Ah, in that case, I'd be willing to narrow the request, but only through a change of the requested time frame. It appears that nobody's really sure how long it'll take, so I'd like to suggest somewhat of an iterative approach: should 8 years be too many, please provide 7.. should 7 be too many, please provide 6, and so forth.
From: Detroit Police Department
Dear sir or madam,
I hope this message finds you safe and well. Thank you for your patience during this challenging time in City operations. DPD has been collecting the estimates from the 16 commands that would be responsible for processing your request. I limited the request to search warrant data for the past year. So far, we have estimates for 7 of 16 units, totally $167,038.16. (see below)
Before going any further, I wanted to follow up and see if there is any other modification that you are willing to do with your request? Again, this data is not centralized, so each unit would have to manually search files. Is there any particular unit that you may be interested in? Or month?
Please advise.
Command
Estimate
12 PDU
$4,180.25
Major Crimes
$9,208.20
2 PDU
20.898.63
SVU Sex Crimes
$17,333.76
SVU Child Abuse
$20,124.14
SVU Domestic Violence
$95,239.06
5 PDU
$20,952.75
TOTAL
$167,038.16
Ericka Savage Whitley
Assistant Corporation Counsel
City of Detroit, Law Department
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 237-3008
savagee@detroitmi.gov<mailto:savagee@detroitmi.gov>
NOTE: Ericka Savage Whitley is an attorney for the City of Detroit. This communication may include, in whole or in part, information protected by the attorney-client privilege, the attorney work product doctrine, the deliberative process privilege, or by any other privilege. This communication is intended solely for receipt and use by the individual or entity to whom it was addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, dissemination, duplication or retention of the communication is neither allowed nor intended. If you are not the intended recipient, please return the communication immediately to Ericka Savage Whitley and notify her immediately at the above e-mail address or telephone number.
From: Detroit Police Department
Good afternoon,
I am just following up on this matter.
I hope you are safe and well.
Ericka Savage Whitley
Assistant Corporation Counsel
City of Detroit, Law Department
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 500
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 237-3008
savagee@detroitmi.gov<mailto:savagee@detroitmi.gov>
NOTE: Ericka Savage Whitley is an attorney for the City of Detroit. This communication may include, in whole or in part, information protected by the attorney-client privilege, the attorney work product doctrine, the deliberative process privilege, or by any other privilege. This communication is intended solely for receipt and use by the individual or entity to whom it was addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any use, dissemination, duplication or retention of the communication is neither allowed nor intended. If you are not the intended recipient, please return the communication immediately to Ericka Savage Whitley and notify her immediately at the above e-mail address or telephone number.
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