Untitled (Kent Police Department)

Dear Trone Dowd: Thank you
for your interest in public records of the City of Kent. Your request has been
received and is being processed. Your request was received in this office on
3/9/2022 and given the reference number W037642-030922
for tracking purposes. Pursuant to RCW 42.56, this response acknowledges receipt of your request for
public records. The City estimates  it will provide a further response
within 5 business days with a determination regarding disclosure, denial, or if
an exemption to disclosure can be established. The City reserves the right to
extend this time frame if necessary.
Records Requested: COPY OF A POLICE
INCIDENT CASE REPORT Your
request will be forwarded to the relevant city department(s) to locate the
records you seek, and then determine the volume and any costs associated with
satisfying your request.  The City will contact you about the availability
of the records or provide copies of the records responsive to your request.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below.  You will
receive an email notification when your request has been completed. Again,
thank you for using the Public Records Center.
City of Kent

--- Please respond above this line ---
City Clerk Kimberley A. Komoto City Clerk 220 4th Avenue South Kent, WA 98032 Fax: 253-856-6725 PHONE:  253-856-5725
03/15/2022 Trone Dowd MuckRock News DEPT MR 125952 Somerville, MA 02144-2516 Re: Public Records Request, dated 3/9/2022 File #W037642-030922 for Police Incident Case Report Matter – Extension of Time Needed to Respond Dear Trone Dowd:
On 3/9/2022, you submitted a public records request to the City of Kent wherein you sought records for: all correspondence between members of the department via email and cellular text messages that contains references to the use of "aerial drones" or "drones" for the purpose of "surveillance", "crime intervention" or "crime prevention." This correspondence should be limited to correspondence that occurred between January 2016 and March 2022. The City advised you it anticipated responding to your request within 5 business days. The City now needs  to extend this estimate; and currently estimates it will be able to provide responsive records, either on an installment basis or in total in approximately 25 business days or less.
This additional time is necessary due to current staffing levels, current volume of public record requests received; locating and assembling the requested records; if necessary notifying any third parties who may be affected by the request; and to determine whether any of the information contained within the requested records is exempt from disclosure, in whole or in part. If you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 253-856-5725. Thank you. Sincerely, Tiffany Alcorn Tiffany Alcorn Lead Public Disclosure Administrator City of Kent Administration
Derek Matheson, CAO

--- Please respond above this line ---
City Clerk Kimberley A. Komoto City Clerk 2204th Avenue South Kent, WA 98032 Fax: 253-856-6725 PHONE:  253-856-5725
04/19/2022 Trone Dowd MuckRock News DEPT MR 125952 Somerville, MA 02144-2516 Re: Public Records Request, dated 3/9/2022 File #W037642-030922 for Police Incident Case Report Matter – Installment # 1 - Records Available; Installment #2- Additional Time Needed to Respond Dear Trone Dowd: On 3/9/2022, you submitted a public records request to the City of Kent wherein you sought records for: To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
all correspondence between members of the department via email and cellular text messages that contains references to the use of "aerial drones" or "drones" for the purpose of "surveillance", "crime intervention" or "crime prevention." This correspondence should be limited to correspondence that occurred between January 2016 and March 2022.
In order to help you determine my status for the purpose of assessing fees, you should know that I am a representative of Vice News organization and this request is made as part of news gathering and not for commercial
use.
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,
Trone Dowd
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ The City of Kent has completed Installment #1 of records relating to the above-referenced public records request, subject to any subsequent clarification that may have been obtained. Some records are being withheld in accordance with the Public Records Act and may include redactions where an exempt portion of the record was “blacked out” or a record withheld in its entirety. The records are provided to you along with an exemption log that identifies the specific exemption authorizing the withholding/redacting, and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld, in whole or in part. The fee to obtain copies of the responsive records has been waived. The records are available at the City’s on-line Public Records Center.  You may access the records by following the below link and instructions: 1. https://www.kentwa.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/public-records-center 2. Click on "My Request Center" 3. Click on "View My Requests" 4. Login to your account, click "Submit" 5. Click on the File # for this request. 6. The electronic records are available in the "Files" window. In accordance with the City's Public Records Request Policy located on the City's website; copied records, or records gathered for inspection, will be available to the requester for 30 calendar days from the date of the City's notification to the requester that the records are available.  If a requester fails to retrieve or inspect the responsive records within that 30-day period, the records request will be deemed abandoned, the records will be returned to the originating department, and the City will close the request. If the records were produced as an installment response under section 1.5.3.4.C, the requester's failure to retrieve or inspect an installment will result in the City discontinuing its search for any remaining records, closing the entire records request. We are continuing to process responsive records for Installment #2.   The City currently estimates it will be able to provide responsive records, either on an installment basis or in total in approximately business days or less. 15 If you are not able to access the records at the Public Records Center, or if you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 253-856-5725. Thank you. Sincerely, Kathryn McKee Kathryn McKee Public Disclosure Analyst City of Kent Administration
Arthur “Pat” Fitzpatrick, Interim Chief Administrative Officer

--- Please respond above this line ---
City Clerk Kimberley A. Komoto City Clerk 220 4th Avenue South Kent, WA 98032 Fax: 253-856-6725 PHONE:  253-856-5725
05/09/2022 Trone Dowd MuckRock News DEPT MR 125952 Somerville, MA 02144-2516 Re: Public Records Request, dated 3/9/2022 File #W037642-030922 for Police Incident Case Report Matter – Installment #2 - Records Available; Installment # 3 - Additional Time Needed to Respond Dear Trone Dowd:
On 3/9/2022, you submitted a public records request to the City of Kent wherein you sought records for:
all correspondence between members of the department via email and cellular text messages that contains references to the use of "aerial drones" or "drones" for the purpose of "surveillance", "crime intervention" or "crime prevention." This correspondence should be limited to correspondence that occurred between January 2016 and March 2022. The City of Kent has completed Installment #2 of records relating to the above-referenced public records request, subject to any subsequent clarification that may have been obtained. Additional records responsive to your request have been located, these records  are part of an on-going investigation and are categorically exempt from disclosure at this time in accordance with RCW 42.56.240(1) and Newman v. King County, 133 Wn.2d 565 (1997).  Because records regarding this on-going investigation are categorically exempt from disclosure, no exemption log is required.



The fee to obtain copies of the responsive records has been waived.
The records are available at the City’s on-line Public Records Center.  You may access the records by following the below link and instructions: 1. https://www.kentwa.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/public-records-center 2. Click on "My Request Center" 3. Click on "View My Requests" 4. Login to your account, click "Submit" 5. Click on the File # for this request. 6. The electronic records are available in the "Files" window. In accordance with the City's Public Records Request Policy located on the City's website; copied records, or records gathered for inspection, will be available to the requester for 30 calendar days from the date of the City's notification to the requester that the records are available.  If a requester fails to retrieve or inspect the responsive records within that 30-day period, the records request will be deemed abandoned, the records will be returned to the originating department, and the City will close the request. If the records were produced as an installment response under section 1.5.3.4.C, the requester's failure to retrieve or inspect an installment will result in the City discontinuing its search for any remaining records, closing the entire records request. We are continuing to process responsive records for Installment #3 . The City currently estimates it will be able to provide responsive records, either on an installment basis or in total in approximately 60 business days or less.
If you are not able to access the records at the Public Records Center, or if you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 253-856-5725.
Thank you. Sincerely, Tiffany Alcorn Tiffany Alcorn Lead Public Disclosure Administrator
City of Kent Administration
Arthur “Pat” Fitzpatrick, Interim Chief Administrative Officer

--- Please respond above this line ---

08/04/2022 Re: Public Records Request, dated 3/9/2022 File #W037642-030922 for Police Incident Case Report Matter – Extension of Time Needed to Respond Dear Trone Dowd:
On 3/9/2022, you submitted a public records request to the City of Kent wherein you sought records for:
all correspondence between members of the department via email and cellular text messages that contains references to the use of "aerial drones" or "drones" for the purpose of "surveillance", "crime intervention" or "crime prevention." This correspondence should be limited to correspondence that occurred between January 2016 and March 2022. The City has previously provided you with an installment #1 and installment #2 of records responsive to your request.  We are continuing to work on fulfillment of your request but additional time as needed as we are awaiting the return to work of employees who have been on long term leave in order to conduct a reasonable search for any text messages on their department issued cell phones that would be responsive to your request. The City advised you it anticipated responding to your request by 08/04/2022. The City now needs  to extend this estimate; and currently estimates it will be able to provide responsive records, either on an installment basis or in total in approximately 90 business days or less as the 2 remaining officer are not expected to return to work in the near future. If you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 253-856-5725. Thank you. Sincerely, Tiffany Alcorn Tiffany Alcorn Lead Public Disclosure Administrator City of Kent Administration
Arthur “Pat” Fitzpatrick, Interim Chief Administrative Officer

--- Please respond above this line ---

Trone,
On 08/04/2022 we advised you of a 90 business day extension, our current update/due date is 12/15/2022;  the City's IT department is still working to recover emails that may be responsive to your request.
Thanks,
Tiffany Alcorn
City of Kent

--- Please respond above this line ---
City Clerk Kimberley A. Komoto City Clerk 220 4th Avenue South Kent, WA 98032 Fax: 253-856-6725 PHONE:  253-856-5725
12/15/2022 Trone Dowd MuckRock News DEPT MR 125952 Somerville, MA 02144-2516 Re: Public Records Request, dated 3/9/2022 File #W037642-030922 for Police Incident Case Report Matter – Installment #3 - Records Available; Installment #4 - Additional Time Needed to Respond Dear Trone Dowd:
On 3/9/2022, you submitted a public records request to the City of Kent wherein you sought records for:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

all correspondence between members of the department via email and cellular text messages that contains references to the use of "aerial drones" or "drones" for the purpose of "surveillance", "crime intervention" or "crime prevention." This correspondence should be limited to correspondence that occurred between January 2016 and March 2022.

In order to help you determine my status for the purpose of assessing fees, you should know that I am a representative of Vice News organization and this request is made as part of news gathering and not for commercial
use.

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,

Trone Dowd

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ The City of Kent has completed Installment #3 of records relating to the above-referenced public records request, subject to any subsequent clarification that may have been obtained.
Some records are being withheld in accordance with the Public Records Act and may include redactions where an exempt portion of the record was “blacked out” or a record withheld in its entirety. The records are provided to you along with an exemption log that identifies the specific exemption authorizing the withholding/redacting, and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld, in whole or in part.
The fee to obtain copies of the responsive records has been waived.
The records are available at the City’s on-line Public Records Center.  You may access the records by following the below link and instructions: 1. https://www.kentwa.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/public-records-center 2. Click on "My Request Center" 3. Click on "View My Requests" 4. Login to your account, click "Submit" 5. Click on the File # for this request. 6. The electronic records are available in the "Files" window. In accordance with the City's Public Records Request Policy located on the City's website; copied records, or records gathered for inspection, will be available to the requester for 30 calendar days from the date of the City's notification to the requester that the records are available.  If a requester fails to retrieve or inspect the responsive records within that 30-day period, the records request will be deemed abandoned, the records will be returned to the originating department, and the City will close the request. If the records were produced as an installment response under section 1.5.3.4.C, the requester's failure to retrieve or inspect an installment will result in the City discontinuing its search for any remaining records, closing the entire records request. The City has completed searching for records responsive to your request with the exception of emails dated between 01/01/2016-08/23/2018.  Emails during that time frame were inadvertently deleted from the City's backup server and our IT Department is working with an outside vendor in an attempt to recover as many of the emails from that time period as possible.  Until that work is completed we are unable to search for those emails. Therefore additional time is needed for us to complete your request. We currently estimate the City will be able to provide responsive records, either on an installment basis or in total in approximately 90 business days or less.
If you are not able to access the records at the Public Records Center, or if you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 253-856-5725.
Thank you. Sincerely, Tiffany Alcorn Tiffany Alcorn Lead Public Disclosure Administrator
City of Kent Administration
Arthur “Pat” Fitzpatrick, Chief Administrative Officer

--- Please respond above this line ---
04/05/2023 Re: Public Records Request, dated 3/9/2022 File #W037642-030922 for Police Incident Case Report Matter – Full Response Completed, File Closed Dear Trone Dowd: On 3/9/2022, you submitted a public records request to the City of Kent wherein you sought records for:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

all correspondence between members of the department via email and cellular text messages that contains references to the use of "aerial drones" or "drones" for the purpose of "surveillance", "crime intervention" or "crime prevention." This correspondence should be limited to correspondence that occurred between January 2016 and March 2022.

In order to help you determine my status for the purpose of assessing fees, you should know that I am a representative of Vice News organization and this request is made as part of news gathering and not for commercial
use.

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,

Trone Dowd

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ The City provided you with records previously on an installment basis. As of 04/05/2023 the City has made available the records responsive to your request (installment #4/final). In producing these records, the City made a reasonable search to locate responsive records based on the description you provided in your request. The fee to obtain copies of the responsive records has been waived. Some records are being withheld in accordance with the Public Records Act and may include redactions where an exempt portion of the record was “blacked out” or a record withheld in its entirety. The records are provided to you along with an exemption log that identifies the specific exemption authorizing the withholding/redacting, and a brief explanation of how the exemption applies to the record withheld, in whole or in part. The records are available at the City’s on-line Public Records Center.  You may access the records by following the below link and instructions: 1. https://www.kentwa.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/public-records-center 2. Click on "My Request Center" 3. Click on "View My Requests" 4. Login to your account, click "Submit" 5. Click on the File # for this request. 6. The electronic records are available in the "Files" window. This letter is to confirm completion of your request and to advise the City is closing its file. If you believe this closure is in error, please contact us immediately. If you are not able to access the records at the Public Records Center, or if you have any questions, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 253-856-5725. Thank you. Sincerely, Tiffany Alcorn Tiffany Alcorn Lead Public Disclosure Administrator Office of the City Clerk Kim Komoto, City Clerk 220 Fourth Avenue South Kent, WA 98032 253-856-5725