FOIA - Covert Surveillance Programs, Counterintelligence Operations and Domestic Intelligence Activities (Eugene Police Department)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Oregon Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

This FOIA request, submitted by Evan L Rees, seeks access to documents related to covert surveillance programs, counterintelligence operations, and domestic intelligence activities conducted by this agency or it's contractors that may be synonymous with or reminiscent of tactics employed in historical programs such as COINTELPRO and MK Ultra. Specifically, this request aims to obtain records pertaining to activities that could be colloquially referred to as "Cointelpro 2.0" or any other covert programs undertaken by the agency involving surveillance, infiltration, disruption, or manipulation of individuals or groups within the United States.

Documents of interest include, but are not limited to:

1. Internal memoranda, directives, and communications discussing the planning, execution, and objectives of such covert operations, including any references to MK Ultra or similar programs.
2. Operational plans, strategies, and guidelines governing the conduct of surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities, including any involvement or coordination with community policing initiatives.
3. Records of surveillance operations, including logs, reports, and warrants obtained for monitoring targeted individuals or groups, including any watch lists or databases used for tracking.
4. Intelligence reports, assessments, and analyses generated as a result of surveillance and infiltration efforts, including any assessments related to private contractors involved in intelligence activities.
5. Training materials, manuals, and protocols used to educate personnel involved in covert operations, including any materials related to community alerts or coordination with neighborhood watch groups.
6. Budgetary documents related to the funding and allocation of resources for covert surveillance and intelligence activities.
7. Legal opinions, guidance, and interpretations concerning the legality and oversight of covert programs.
8. After-action reports, evaluations, and assessments conducted to review the effectiveness and impact of covert operations.

This request also encompasses documents related to activities synonymous with or related to "Cointelpro 2.0," including but not limited to covert surveillance programs, counterintelligence operations, undercover investigations, disruption programs, counterterrorism measures, covert infiltration tactics, political surveillance programs, coercive intelligence operations, and national security investigations.

Please process this request specifically for Evan L Rees, as the documents sought are requested in relation to myself.

I am specifically requesting expedited processing of this request, as the information sought is of timely and significant public interest.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Evan L Rees

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.

Sincerely,

Evan L Rees

Subject: Request for PDF Format Delivery of Public Records

Dear Melinda,

I hope this message finds you well. Thank you for your prompt response regarding the processing of public records requests. While I understand that there have been changes within the Public Records Office, I must express my concern regarding the procedure outlined for accessing requested documents.

While I appreciate the availability of an online form via the provided link, requiring requesters to navigate through additional steps may present barriers to accessing public records. As someone exercising their rights under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), my primary concern is to obtain the requested documents in a timely and accessible manner.

Given the prevalence of PDF format as a standard for document sharing and archiving, I would like to respectfully request that the documents I have requested be provided to me directly in PDF format. This would ensure ease of access and compatibility across various platforms, without the need for additional steps or specialized software.

Moreover, prioritizing the provision of documents in PDF format aligns with the principles of transparency and accessibility in government processes, allowing for efficient dissemination of public information to concerned citizens.

I understand that transitions within the Public Records Office may require adjustments, and I appreciate your attention to this matter. Your cooperation in providing the requested documents in PDF format would greatly facilitate my access to public records and contribute to upholding the principles of open governance.

Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to your response and the timely provision of the requested documents.

Sincerely,
Evan L Rees

Dear Chris Stetson,

Thank you for your response regarding my records request.

While I appreciate your diligence in assessing whether you are the custodian of the record in question, I would like to clarify that under the principles of public records law, agencies are typically presumed to be the custodian of their own records unless it can be demonstrated otherwise. Given this understanding, I trust that your department is indeed the custodian of the record I am seeking.

However, I am somewhat troubled by the implication that there may be fees associated with my request. As you are likely aware, public records laws generally mandate that any fees associated with fulfilling requests should be reasonable and directly related to the cost of production or reproduction of the records. I would appreciate a detailed breakdown of any potential fees prior to proceeding with my request.

Furthermore, I would appreciate expediency in your determination of custodianship, as the timeliness of this matter is of utmost importance.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely , Evan L Rees