Sheriff data collection request 2022 (Kalamazoo County Sheriff)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
Your request has been received. Pursuant to MCL 15.235, we will respond to your request within five business days with the first business day beginning the day after the request was submitted.  Your request was submitted to this office on 11/26/2023 and given the reference number P010259-112623 for tracking purposes. 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 in 2022. Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in 2022 were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force, in 2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2022, baton incidents in 2022, etc.)

3. the total number of civilian complaints against law enforcement that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

7. the total number of officer-involved shootings in 2022, both fatal and non-fatal.

8. the total number of people who the sheriff’s department used force against, broken down by race/ethnicity, in 2022.

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: The Michigan Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 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 will receive an email when your request has been completed.

--- Please respond above this line ---
November 30, 2023 P010259-112623 Samuel Sinyangwe, The Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office has prepared your FOIA request and it is ready for release. Please forward payment of $22.14 to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office to receive the requested documents. Once payment is received, we will release the records to you electronically via the FOIA Portal. Per law, reduced fees for indigence and qualifying nonprofit organizations will be provided with proof of said indigence. Proof of indigent status via an affidavit affords a $20.00 discount for 2 requests per calendar year. Sincerely, Kam Holtz
FOIA Coordinator
Office of the Sheriff Please send a money order made payable to: KALAMAZOO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, 1500 Lamont St., Kalamazoo, MI 49048 in the amount indicated above along with a copy of this invoice.  Payment can also be made at the front desk of the Sheriff’s Office Monday through Friday 7am to 3:45pm. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact KAM HOLTZ at (269) 385-6191. *** We only accept money orders or cash NO credit cards.

--- Please respond above this line ---
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe, RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of November 26, 2023, Reference # P010259-112623. We have reviewed your request submitted pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act received by Kalamazoo County as: “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 in 2022. Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in 2022 were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force, in 2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2022, baton incidents in 2022, etc.)

3. the total number of civilian complaints against law enforcement that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

7. the total number of officer-involved shootings in 2022, both fatal and non-fatal.

8. the total number of people who the sheriff’s department used force against, broken down by race/ethnicity, in 2022.

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 is GRANTED. To access the requested record(s), log in to your account on the public portal. Under "My Request Center" click on "View My Requests."  Then click on "View Files." The released record(s) are available there to be viewed and/or downloaded. This email completes your request. CERTIFICATION: The undersigned certifies that the records released are a true copy of the originals. Please keep in mind that this particular document was created as a courtesy for this request ONLY, however, in the future we may not be able to guarantee/fulfill requests like this, due to system/application changes in how our information is stored/retained. Our agency does not maintain too many statistics in the manner in which was requested. MCL 15.233 (4) [the County has no duty to create a new record] for the reason that the Michigan Freedom of Information Act is limited to request for documents. A public body under the Act is not required to create records or answer questions. Sheriff Public Records Request - P010259-112623 Sincerely, Kam Holtz FOIA Coordinator Office of the Sheriff