Police Data Collection Request (2021)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
Thank you for your interest in public records of Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Your request has been received and is being processed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, Public Act 422 of 1976, as amended, MCL. 15.231 et. seq. Your request was received in this office on 10/17/2022 and given the reference number P010580-101722 for tracking purposes. With Electronic Requests, the statutory response time does not begin until the following business day. Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information 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.)

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 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request will be forwarded to the relevant department(s) to locate the information you seek and to determine the volume and any costs associated with satisfying your request. You will be contacted about the availability and/or provided with copies of the records in question. PLEASE NOTE: Freedom of Information Act, Public Act 422 of 1976, as amended, MCL. 15.231 et. seq. does not require a governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Public Records Center.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety

RE: Freedom of Information Act Request dated October 17, 2022, Reference # P010580-101722
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety has received your public information request dated 10/17/2022 pursuant to MCL 15.235(1) for the following: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information 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.)

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 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
In accordance with the applicable provisions of the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, MCL 15.235(2)(d), the City of Kalamazoo has extended the statutory time period for responding to your request by 10 business days to November 07, 2022, in order to compile and review the records you have requested.
Please contact us by replying to this email if you have any further concerns/questions related to this request.
Sincerely,
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY.

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: Freedom of Information Act Request of October 17, 2022, Reference #P010580-101722.

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety received a public information request from you on October 17, 2022. Your request mentioned:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information 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.)

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 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety has reviewed your request and has determined that part of the records requested are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act for the following reason(s):
- Other - Per MCL 15.233 (4) the FOIA does not require a public body to make a compilation, summary, or report of information beyond the public record that exists.
Please log in to the Public Records Center to retrieve the non-exempt responsive documents.
Sincerely,

Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety
NOTICE: Michigan law provides two means for appealing a denial of all or part of a request under the Freedom of Information Act. You may file a written appeal with the City Clerk or the City Attorney which must state the word "appeal" and identified the reason or reasons for reversal of the denial.
In addition, you have the right to challenge this denial by starting a lawsuit in the Kalamazoo Circuit Court to compel disclosure within 180 days after a final denial of the request, Should you prevail, you will be entitled to have reasonable attorney fees, costs and disbursements assessed against the public body, as ordered by the Court. If the public body has been arbitrary and capricious, you may be awarded, in addition to actual damages, punitive damages not exceeding $1,000.
The City of Kalamazoo FOIA Procedures & Guidelines and its Written Public Summary are available at www.kalamazoocity.org/foia