FOIA -Covert surveillance programs, Counterintelligence Operations and Domestic Intelligence Activities (Los Angeles Police Department) • MuckRock

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Communications

From: Evan Rees

03/24/2024

Subject: California Public Records Act Request: FOIA -Covert surveillance programs, Counterintelligence Operations and Domestic Intelligence Activities (Los Angeles Police Department)

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To Whom It May Concern:

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

This FOIA request, submitted by Evan L Rees, seeks access to documents related to covert surveillance programs, counterintelligence operations, and domestic intelligence activities conducted by [Name of Government Agency] that may be synonymous with or reminiscent of tactics employed in historical programs such as COINTELPRO and MK Ultra. Specifically, this request aims to obtain records pertaining to activities that could be colloquially referred to as "Cointelpro 2.0" or any other covert programs undertaken by the agency involving surveillance, infiltration, disruption, or manipulation of individuals or groups within the United States.

Documents of interest include, but are not limited to:

1. Internal memoranda, directives, and communications discussing the planning, execution, and objectives of such covert operations, including any references to MK Ultra or similar programs.
2. Operational plans, strategies, and guidelines governing the conduct of surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities, including any involvement or coordination with community policing initiatives.
3. Records of surveillance operations, including logs, reports, and warrants obtained for monitoring targeted individuals or groups, including any watch lists or databases used for tracking.
4. Intelligence reports, assessments, and analyses generated as a result of surveillance and infiltration efforts, including any assessments related to private contractors involved in intelligence activities.
5. Training materials, manuals, and protocols used to educate personnel involved in covert operations, including any materials related to community alerts or coordination with neighborhood watch groups.
6. Budgetary documents related to the funding and allocation of resources for covert surveillance and intelligence activities.
7. Legal opinions, guidance, and interpretations concerning the legality and oversight of covert programs.
8. After-action reports, evaluations, and assessments conducted to review the effectiveness and impact of covert operations.

This request also encompasses documents related to activities synonymous with or related to "Cointelpro 2.0," including but not limited to covert surveillance programs, counterintelligence operations, undercover investigations, disruption programs, counterterrorism measures, covert infiltration tactics, political surveillance programs, coercive intelligence operations, and national security investigations.

Please process this request specifically for Evan L Rees, as the documents sought are requested in relation to myself.

I am specifically requesting expedited processing of this request, as the information sought is of timely and significant public interest.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Evan L Rees

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 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Evan L Rees

From: Los Angeles Police Department

04/01/2024

Subject: Your City of Los Angeles public records request #24-3506 has been opened.

Portal

City of Los Angeles

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Your record request #24-3506 has been submitted successfully.

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From: Los Angeles Police Department

04/04/2024

Subject: [External Message Added] City of Los Angeles public records request #24-3506

Portal

City of Los Angeles

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A message was sent to you regarding record request #24-3506:

Dear Requester,

Your California Public Records Act (CPRA) request was received and will be assigned to a CPRA Analyst.

If you have questions, please respond to this email.

Respectfully,

LAPD Public Records & Subpoena Response Section, CPRA Unit

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From: Los Angeles Police Department

04/11/2024

Subject: [External Message Added] City of Los Angeles public records request #24-3506

Portal

City of Los Angeles

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A message was sent to you regarding record request #24-3506:

Dear Requestor:

We have reviewed your California Public Records Act request. Please be advised that, pursuant to California Government Code Section 7922.535, we have found that “unusual circumstances” exist with respect to the request due to the need to search for, collect, and review the requested records from other Department entities which are separate from the office processing the request. Therefore, we will require the statutory fourteen days extension of time in which to respond. A determination concerning your request will be made as soon as possible.

Respectfully,

LAPD Public Records and Subpoena Response Section, CPRA Unit

From: Evan Rees

04/12/2024

Subject: RE: California Public Records Act Request #24-3506

Portal

Subject: Re: City of Los Angeles public records request #24-3506

Dear LAPD Public Records & Subpoena Response Section,

Thank you for acknowledging receipt of my California Public Records Act (CPRA) request #24-3506. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter.

I want to assure you of my full cooperation and willingness to work with you throughout the process. Should you require any additional information or clarification regarding my request, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Additionally, I noted your mention of "unusual circumstances" in your message. Could you please provide clarification on what constitutes "unusual circumstances" in the context of my request? Understanding this term will help ensure a smooth and efficient processing of the request.

Once again, thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your response and to receiving the requested records in due course.

Respectfully,

Evan L Rees

From: Los Angeles Police Department

04/16/2024

Subject: [External Message Added] City of Los Angeles public records request #24-3506

Portal

City of Los Angeles

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A message was sent to you regarding record request #24-3506:

Dear Requestor,

We have received your message.

As we previously stated, we require the statutory fourteen days extension due to our need to search for, collect, and review the requested records from other Department entities which are separate from the office processing the request.

Thank you for your continued patience.

Respectfully,

LAPD Public Records and Subpoena Response Section, CPRA Unit

From: Los Angeles Police Department

04/25/2024

Subject: Your City of Los Angeles public records request #24-3506 has been closed.

Portal

City of Los Angeles

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Record request #24-3506 has been closed. The closure reason supplied was:

Dear Requestor,

We reviewed your request for:

"1. Internal memoranda, directives, and communications discussing the planning, execution, and objectives of such covert operations, including any references to MK Ultra or similar programs.

2. Operational plans, strategies, and guidelines governing the conduct of surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities, including any involvement or coordination with community policing initiatives.

3. Records of surveillance operations, including logs, reports, and warrants obtained for monitoring targeted individuals or groups, including any watch lists or databases used for tracking.

4. Intelligence reports, assessments, and analyses generated as a result of surveillance and infiltration efforts, including any assessments related to private contractors involved in intelligence activities.

5. Training materials, manuals, and protocols used to educate personnel involved in covert operations, including any materials related to community alerts or coordination with neighborhood watch groups.

6. Budgetary documents related to the funding and allocation of resources for covert surveillance and intelligence activities.

7. Legal opinions, guidance, and interpretations concerning the legality and oversight of covert programs.

8. After-action reports, evaluations, and assessments conducted to review the effectiveness and impact of covert operations.

The Department is cognizant of its responsibilities under the Act. It recognizes the statutory scheme was enacted to maximize citizen access to the workings of government. The Act does not mandate disclosure of all documents within the government’s possession. Rather, by specific exemption and reference to other statutes, the Act recognizes that there are boundaries where the public’s right to access must be balanced against such weighty considerations as the right of privacy, a right of constitutional dimension under California Constitution, Article 1, Section 1. The law also exempts from disclosure records that are privileged or confidential or otherwise exempt under either express provisions of the Act or pursuant to applicable federal or state law, per California Government Code Sections 7927.200; 7927.700; 7923.600-7923.625; 7927.705; and 7922.000.

With regard to item 1 and "documents related to activities synonymous with or related to "Cointelpro 2.0," a search was conducted and no responsive records were found.

Each government agency maintains and is responsible for its own records. The Federal Bureau of Investigation may have records response to your request. Please click on the following link for the Federal Bureau of Investigation https://www.fbi.gov/.

With regard to items 2 and 5, a search was conducted and the following request contains responsive documents which were previously published and can be accessed via the following link:

Request 19-2163 - NextRequest - Modern FOIA & Public Records Request Software

You may also visit https://www.lapdonline.org/lapd-manual/ for the most current version of the Los Angeles Police Department Manual Section 4/216.49. For additional reference, the Department Manual’s index is available at https://lapdonlinestrgeacc.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/lapdonlinemedia/2023/01/INDEX-1.pdf; this document is searchable and can be accessed by pressing Ctrl (PC) or command button (MAC) + f to find information on rules and procedures for a specific Division, Bureau, or Unit.

Lastly, pursuant to Senate Bill 978, the Department has and continues to release current standards, policies, practices, operating procedures, and education and training materials on its official website. Please visit https://www.lapdonline.org/policies-procedures-training-sb-978/.

With regard to items 3, 4, and 8, in accordance with the California Government Code, Sections 7923.600-7923.625, records of investigations conducted by, or investigatory files compiled by, any local police agency for law enforcement purposes are exempt from disclosure. To the extent that records were located, they are either investigatory records themselves or properly part of an investigative file. Therefore, we are denying your request.

With regard to items 6 and 7, a search was conducted and no responsive records were found.

If you have any questions, please respond to this email.

Respectfully,

LAPD Public Records & Subpoena Response Section, CPRA Unit

From: Los Angeles Police Department

04/25/2024

Subject: Your City of Los Angeles public records request #24-3506 has been published.

Portal

City of Los Angeles

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Record request #24-3506 has been published and is now available for public view.

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Tracking #	24-3506
Multi Request	FOIA -Covert surveillance programs, Counterintelligence Operations and Domestic Intelligence Activities