Washington police data collection (Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office)
| Tracking # |
2021-0636 |
| Multi Request | Washington police data collection |
| Submitted | July 16, 2021 |
| Est. Completion | Oct. 26, 2021 |
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Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by law enforcement, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2020, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.
7. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-20 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
8. the total amount of money paid out in lawsuits and settlements relating to allegations of police misconduct per year from 2013-20. This includes copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department and the outcome of lawsuits brought against the city's police department including any financial settlement occurring from 2013-20. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department. This request includes any documents compiled quarterly, annually, or in other increments as well as any documents or databases that contain responsive information.
If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.
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,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office
Mr. Sinyangwe/MuckRock News,
Your public records request was received by Grays Harbor County on July 19, 2021. Your request has been assigned the unique tracking number of 2021-0636.
Your request is for the following:
"Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by law enforcement, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2020, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. all information reported to the FBI's National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.
7. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-20 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
8. the total amount of money paid out in lawsuits and settlements relating to allegations of police misconduct per year from 2013-20. This includes copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department and the outcome of lawsuits brought against the city's police department including any financial settlement occurring from 2013-20. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department. This request includes any documents compiled quarterly, annually, or in other increments as well as any documents or databases that contain responsive information.
If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes."
The Public Records Act (RCW 42.56) requires that agencies provide a response to a public records request within 5 business days of receipt - excluding holidays and weekends. I will be in touch with you on or before July 26, 2021 with a statement of fees, if any, that would be due prior to release of responsive records, if any are located.
Please let us know if you believe there to be an error in the interpretation of your request or if you need further assistance.
Kristen Tuman
Public Records Assistant
Grays Harbor County
360.249.4144 ext. 1629
All e-mails sent to this address will be received by the Grays Harbor County e-mail system, may be subject to Public Disclosure under RCW 42.56, and are subject to archiving and review by someone other than the recipient
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From: Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office
Mr. Sinyangwe/MuckRock News,
Your public records request was received by Grays Harbor County on July 19, 2021. Your request has been assigned the unique tracking number of 2021-0636.
Your request is for the following:
"Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by law enforcement, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2020, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. all information reported to the FBI's National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.
7. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-20 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
8. the total amount of money paid out in lawsuits and settlements relating to allegations of police misconduct per year from 2013-20. This includes copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department and the outcome of lawsuits brought against the city's police department including any financial settlement occurring from 2013-20. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department. This request includes any documents compiled quarterly, annually, or in other increments as well as any documents or databases that contain responsive information.
If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes."
Pursuant to RCW 42.56.520, the County is providing you with notice that due to the number of current pending public records requests and staffing levels, it needs additional time to respond to your request. The additional time is necessary to locate and assemble the materials requested.
The County is continuing its search and will have an update to you on or before September 24, 2021.
Please let us know if you have any questions or need further assistance.
Thank you,
Kristen Tuman
Public Records Assistant
Grays Harbor County
360.249.4144 ext. 1629
All e-mails sent to this address will be received by the Grays Harbor County e-mail system, may be subject to Public Disclosure under RCW 42.56, and are subject to archiving and review by someone other than the recipient
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From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Washington Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 16, 2021. You previously indicated that it would be completed on Sept. 24, 2021. I wanted to let you know that I am still interested in the following documents, and to see if that date was still accurate. You had assigned it reference number #2021-0636.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following Washington Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 16, 2021. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on Sept. 24, 2021. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date. You had assigned it reference number #2021-0636.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Grays Harbor County Sheriff's Office
Mr. Sinyangwe/MuckRock News,
Your public records request was received by Grays Harbor County on July 19, 2021. Your request has been assigned the unique tracking number of 2021-0636.
Your request is for the following:
"Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by law enforcement, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2020, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. all information reported to the FBI's National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.
7. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-20 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
8. the total amount of money paid out in lawsuits and settlements relating to allegations of police misconduct per year from 2013-20. This includes copies of all reports, lists, databases, or individual documents that detail lawsuits brought against the city's police department and the outcome of lawsuits brought against the city's police department including any financial settlement occurring from 2013-20. It should also include any documents that your department submits to local, state, or federal agencies listing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the police department. This request includes any documents compiled quarterly, annually, or in other increments as well as any documents or databases that contain responsive information.
If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes."
As it pertains to #1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7, the Public Records Act requires a requestor to ask for identifiable records. See RCW 42.56.080<https://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=42.56.080>. It is our interpretation that this is a request for information. Grays Harbor County Public Records will be taking no further action at this time as this is a request for information. Additionally, the County is not required to create a document in response to a public records request. Smith v. Okanogan County<http://courts.mrsc.org/mc/courts/zappellate/100wnapp/100wnapp0007.htm> (2000); Fisher Broadcasting v. Seattle<http://courts.mrsc.org/wacourtdecisions/180wn2d515slip.pdf> (2014); Benton County v. Zink<http://courts.mrsc.org/wacourtdecisions/191wnapp269slip.pdf> (2015).
As it pertains to #6, no responsive records were located.
As it pertains to #8, in an effort to provide you records in a more timely manner, we are providing you with a list of claims and lawsuits related to your request. These three (3) records (which include a key for allegation type to help you identify which claims and lawsuits you would like records for) are uploaded to our .ftp site and are located here: https://ghcounty.files.com/f/12548511524ee774 This link will expire on October 4, 2021. If you should need a new link after that date please let us know and we can issue a new one. If you should need to reference these documents at a future date, please download and save them.
Please review the claim and lawsuit list provided today for #8 of your request and let us know if there are any claims or lawsuits for which you wish for us to provide further records for. Providing this will assist the County in providing you the documentation you are seeking in the most timely manner possible. Please provide clarification on or before October 26, 2021.
If no clarification is provided on or before October 26, 2021, the County will consider your request fulfilled and closed.
Please let us know if you believe there to be an error in the interpretation of your request, you have difficulty accessing your documents, or if you need further assistance.
Kristen Tuman
Public Records Assistant
Grays Harbor County Public Records
100 W. Broadway, Suite 33
Montesano, WA 98541
Main Office: (360) 964-1654
Fax: (360) 249-5669
All e-mails sent to this address will be received by the Grays Harbor County e-mail system, may be subject to Public Disclosure under RCW 42.56, and are subject to archiving and review by someone other than the recipient
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