Hampton police data collection (2016-2019)

Dear Tom Nash:
Thank you for your interest in public records of City of Hampton, Virginia. Your request has been received and is being processed in accordance with the Virginia Freedom of Information Act.  Your request was received in this office on 6/20/2023 and given the reference number F011062-062023 for tracking purposes. Requests received after 4:30pm on a business day will be processed the following business day.  Requests received on weekends, holidays, or other days City offices are closed will be processed on the next business day. Records Requested: --To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

The total number of use of force incidents, separated by year, from 2016-2019 (for example, "27 total use of force incidents in 2016, 32 total use of force incidents in 2017, etc.)

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,

Tom Nash, a citizen of Virginia, in coordination with Samuel Sinyangwe.
Your request will be forwarded to the relevant department(s) to locate the records you requested and to determine if there are any costs associated with responding to your request. The city has 5 business days to respond to you, either by asking for more details about the request; filling the request; filling part of the request; denying the request; or letting you know that the city needs more time. If all or part of your request is denied, the city will state what parts of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act exempt that information from mandatory public release.  Note that FOIA does not require governments to create records that do not currently exist. Governments can charge the cost of locating, reviewing, and copying records, and can request a deposit if the cost is estimated to be more than $200.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you will receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Hampton Public Records Portal.
City of Hampton, Virginia

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of June 20, 2023, Reference # F011062-062023

Dear Mr. Nash,

The City of Hampton, Virginia received a Freedom of Information Act request from you on June 20, 2023 in which you requested:
"--To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

The total number of use of force incidents, separated by year, from 2016-2019 (for example, "27 total use of force incidents in 2016, 32 total use of force incidents in 2017, etc.)

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,

Tom Nash, a citizen of Virginia, in coordination with Samuel Sinyangwe."

Please be advised that the level of activity and attention necessary to isolate and review files and electronic systems for records potentially responsive to your request make the response quite labor intensive given current workloads in affected departments.  Under those circumstances, it is difficult for the City to reasonably determine, within five (5) working days, all of the records that may be responsive, whether any exemptions from disclosure may apply, and whether to exercise any such exemptions.  Accordingly, the City will take the additional seven (7) work days provided in Virginia Code §2.2-3704(B)(4) to provide a response to your request.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you for your attention.

Cheryl H. Mansfield
FOIA/Litigation Paralegal
Hampton City Attorney’s Office | 22 Lincoln Street, 8th floor | Hampton, VA  23669
Telephone: (757) 727-6127 | Fax: (757) 727-6788
cheryl.mansfield@hampton.gov

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of June 20, 2023, Reference # F011062-062023
Dear Mr. Nash,
The City of Hampton, Virginia received a public information request from you on June 20, 2023. Your request mentioned: "--To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

The total number of use of force incidents, separated by year, from 2016-2019 (for example, "27 total use of force incidents in 2016, 32 total use of force incidents in 2017, etc.)

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,

Tom Nash, a citizen of Virginia, in coordination with Samuel Sinyangwe."
Please be advised that the Hampton Police Division reports as follows:
Use of Force Incidents for 2016 = 69
Use of Force Incidents for 2017 = 97
Use of Force Incidents for 2018 = 105
Use of Force Incidents for 2019 = 68
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you for your attention.

Cheryl H. Mansfield
FOIA/Litigation Paralegal
Hampton City Attorney’s Office | 22 Lincoln Street, 8th floor | Hampton, VA  23669
Telephone: (757) 727-6127 | Fax: (757) 727-6788
cheryl.mansfield@hampton.gov