Sheriff Data Collection Request (2021)
| Submitted | Sept. 11, 2022 |
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Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Indiana Access to 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 7 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Elkhart County Sheriff
September 16, 2022
Samuel Sinyangwe
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 132851
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
Re: Public Records Request
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe,
On September 11, 2022, I received a public records request from you pertaining to our agency use of force reports for 2021. Your request was for the following:
“Pursuant to the Indiana Access to 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.”
The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office is committed to following Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) that is outlined in I.C. 5-14-3. According to I.C. 5-14-3-3, any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during the regular business hours of the agency except as provided in I.C. 5-14-3-4. A request for inspection or copying must identify with reasonable particularity the record being requested and be at the discretion of the agency in writing on or in a form provided by the agency.
In review of your request for public records, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office will need additional time to review materials related to your request. We will plan a response within 14 days from the date of this letter.
Sincerely,
Michael Culp, Captain
MC:jp
From: Elkhart County Sheriff
September 29, 2022
Samuel Sinyangwe
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 132851
263 Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02115
Re: Public Records Request
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe,
On September 11, 2022, I received a public records request from you pertaining to our agency use of force reports for 2021. On September 16, 2022, I responded, requesting an additional 14 days to respond to your request. Your request was for the following:
“Pursuant to the Indiana Access to 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.”
The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office is committed to following Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) that is outlined in I.C. 5-14-3. According to I.C. 5-14-3-3, any person may inspect and copy the public records of any public agency during the regular business hours of the agency except as provided in I.C. 5-14-3-4. A request for inspection or copying must identify with reasonable particularity the record being requested and be at the discretion of the agency in writing on or in a form provided by the agency.
In review of your request, the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office has responded below:
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.
a. Please see attached
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.
a. ONE filed / One sustained
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.
a. ZERO
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.
a. ZERO
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.
a. ZERO
6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2021, both fatal and non-fatal.
a. ZERO
Sincerely,
Michael Culp, Captain
MC:jp
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