Michael Brown Convenience Store Footage Requests (Police Department)
| Submitted | Aug. 17, 2014 |
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Communications
From: Joshua Eaton
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Missouri Sunshine Law and the Missouri Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
Any and all requests for release of footage purported to show a convenience-store robbery by Michael Brown, along with processing notes for these requests
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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 3 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Joshua Eaton
From: Joshua Eaton
To Whom It May Concern:
On Monday, August 18, your office received a request for the following records, pursuant to the Missouri Sunshine Law and the Missouri Public Records Law:
- Any and all requests for release of footage purported to show a convenience-store robbery by Michael Brown, along with processing notes for these requests
I am writing because the statute requires a response within 3 business days, and I am still awaiting a response. I understand how busy you are, especially given recent events, but would appreciate a response at your earliest convenience.
Thank you for your time and help.
Sincerely,
Joshua Eaton
From: Thomas Jackson
Mr. Eaton,
I am forwarding your request to the appropriate person.
As you can imagine, I've been bombarded with e-mail. I apologize for the delay in responding.
TJ
Thomas Jackson
Chief of Police
City of Ferguson, Missouri 63135
(314) 524-4776
From: Stephanie Karr
Mr. Eaton,
Your email below has been forwarded and received by the Custodian of Records on August 23, 2014. I am assisting the Custodian of Records in responding to such requests.
Please be advised that it will take longer than three (3) days to research what records are available and subject to disclosure under Missouri's Sunshine Law and retrieve and copy any such records. Additional time is required due to several factors including (i) the scope and nature of your request; (ii) safety limitations on access to the location of the records requested; (iii) compromise of the City's computer systems which we have experienced due to malicious actions by outside persons; and (iv) lack of personnel available to complete the research and retrieval of the records given the current events occurring within the city and the resulting demands on city resources.
Please note that I am currently compiling the written requests that did get through via email and that were received by fax and mail. Of course, the response will not include verbal requests for records.
Those should be available in the next few days.
Stephanie Karr
From: Megan Asikainen
I have compiled the records you requested via email on August 22, 2014 pertaining to "any and all requests for release of footage purported to show a convenience store robbery by Michael Brown, along with processing notes for these requests." The compiled records are as of 1:00 p.m. today, August 26, 2014.
These records may be picked up at City Hall, 110 Church Street during our normal business hours. The cost of the requested records has been divided among those agencies making the request. The cost for your portion of the fulfillment is $32.73 for photocopies of the requested records. If you would like the records mailed to you, please contact me to calculate the additional cost to mail the records.
Thank you,
Megan Asikainen
City Clerk
From: Joshua Eaton
Dear Ms. Asikainen,
Thanks for your quick response! Would you mind mailing the records? Here's my address:
Joshua Eaton
c/o Spare Change News
1151 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
I would also ask that you please reconsider my request for a fee waiver. I'm a professional journalist whose work has appeared in national and international publications, including the Boston Globe, Salon, Al Jazeera America, Huffington Post, and GlobalPost. This request is made as part of the news gathering process, and any articles I write based on these documents will by published by an established news outlet. This request is not for commercial purposes.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
Best,
Joshua Eaton
From: Megan Asikainen
Joshua,
The cost to mail the records is $10.01. The total for everything is $42.74. We reduced the costs to individual journalists and requestors by dividing the total retrieval and copying fees among all those requesting.
Thank you,
Megan
Megan Asikainen
City Clerk
City of Ferguson, Missouri
110 Church Street
Ferguson, MO 63135
(314) 524-5152 Phone
(314) 524-5173 Fax
measikainen@fergusoncity.com
From: Megan Asikainen
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