Unofficial Ballot Boxes (Los Angeles Police Department)

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

Your first City of Los Angeles record request (request number #20-7378) has been submitted.
It is currently unpublished and is not available for the general public to view.

Request #20-7378.

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-7378:

Dear Requester:

The Department continues to process CPRA requests as they come in during the COVID-19 public health crisis, and will endeavor to do so in a timely manner.  While the Department will be making every effort to comply with its statutory obligations, due to the COVID-19 crisis and the City and Department's efforts to tackle its effects, the actual production of records responsive to your request (if any) may be delayed if Department resources are needed to perform critical functions or are constrained due to the pandemic.  The Department greatly appreciates your patience during this difficult time, as the entire community and nation deals with this unusual and serious situation.  During this crisis, the Department would also ask that requesters consider postponing the submission of any requests that can wait until after the immediate crisis has abated.

If you have any questions, please respond to this e-mail.

Respectfully,

LAPD Discovery Section, CPRA Unit

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-7378:

Dear Requester:

I have reviewed your California Public Records Act request. 

Please be advised that, pursuant to California Government Code Section 6253(c), I 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, my staff 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.

If you have any questions regarding this correspondence, simply respond to this email. 

Respectfully,

LAPD Discovery Section CPRA Unit

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-7378:

Dear Requester:

Please be advised that the Department continues to search for, identify, and/or review responsive records and will respond as soon as practicable.  Thank you for your continued patience.

Respectfully,

LAD Discovery, CPRA Unit

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-7378:

Dear Requester:

Please be advised that the Department continues to search for, identify, and/or review responsive records and will respond as soon as practicable.  Thank you for your continued patience.

Respectfully,

LAD Discovery, CPRA Unit

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-7378:

Dear Requester:

Please be advised that the Department continues to search for, identify, and/or review responsive records and will respond as soon as practicable.  Thank you for your continued patience.

Respectfully,

LAD Discovery, CPRA Unit

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-7378:

Dear Requester:

Please be advised that the Department continues to search for, identify, and/or review responsive records and will respond as soon as practicable.  Thank you for your continued patience.

Respectfully,

LAD Discovery, CPRA Unit

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

A message was sent to you regarding record request #20-7378:

Dear Requester:

Please be advised that the Department continues to search for, identify, and/or review responsive records and will respond as soon as practicable.  Thank you for your continued patience.

Respectfully,

LAD Discovery, CPRA Unit

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

Record request #20-7378 has been closed and published. The closure reason supplied was:

Dear Jason Koebler:

We reviewed your request for:

- Any complaints about the unofficial/fake ballot boxes from residents- Any guidance about the unofficial/fake ballot boxes given to city, county, or state officials- Any presentations, pdfs, legal analyses about the unofficial/fake ballot boxes distributed to or from city, county, or state officials- Any police reports associated with these ballot boxes- Any communication with law enforcement (state, local, or national) about the ballot boxes- Any emails mentioning or about the unofficial ballot boxes- Any photos, video, or voicemails related to the unofficial ballot boxes- Any communications with the United States Postal Service or city/county sanitation services about the unofficial ballot boxes

Your request was made under the California Public Records Act (the Act). 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 6254(b); 6254(c); 6254(f); 6254(k); and 6255.

With regards to your request for any complaints about the unofficial/fake ballot boxes from residents, a search was conducted, and the Department has identified two Calls for Service that are responsive. Please be advised that our authority to provide information is dictated by Government Code Section 6250 et seq., otherwise known as the California Public Records Act. While Section 6254(f)(2) allows for the release of some information, it does not provide for the release of 9-1-1 tapes or logs. The record may be obtained through a subpoena or court order related to pending litigation.

In accordance with Section 6254(f)(2), the following information from the Call for Service is summarized below:  

* Date and Time of Call: 10/16/2020 at 10:17

* Location of Occurrence: Patricia Ave / W Pico Blvd

* Date and Time of Report: not stated in call

* Name and Age of Victim: not stated in call

* Factual Circumstances of Incident: Officer was advised to drop off mail in box to nearest USPS location

* General Description of Injuries, Property or Weapons: not stated in call

* Date and Time of Call: 10/12/2020 at 15:05

* Location of Occurrence: Burbank Blvd / Fulton Ave

* Date and Time of Report: not stated in call

* Name and Age of Victim: not stated in call

* Factual Circumstances of Incident: PR reported a possible fake ballot drop box

* General Description of Injuries, Property or Weapons: not stated in call

With regards to your request for any guidance about the unofficial/fake ballot boxes given to city, county, or state officials, please be advised that the Los Angeles Police Department is unable to search for records in the custody and control of another Department. Please contact the correct County (see: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/lac/1033324_PRAContacts.pdf) and State Departments (see: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/record_requests/) for further information. However, a search was conducted for any Department records, and no responsive records were located.

With regards to your request for any presentations, pdfs, legal analyses about the unofficial/fake ballot boxes distributed to or from city, county, or state officials, please be advised that the Los Angeles Police Department is unable to search for records in the custody and control of another Department. Please contact the correct County (see: http://file.lacounty.gov/SDSInter/lac/1033324_PRAContacts.pdf) and State Departments (see: https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/record_requests/) for further information. However, a search was conducted for any Department records, and no responsive records were located.

With regards to your request for any police reports associated with these ballot boxes, in accordance with the California Government Code, Section 6254(f), 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. The records may be provided pursuant to a subpoena or court order related to pending litigation.

Should any records be located, to the extent the information is recorded, the time, date, and location of occurrence, the time and date of the report, the name and age of the victim, and a brief statement of the circumstances can be made available to you upon request. However, a search was conducted, and no responsive records were located.

With regards to your request for any communication with law enforcement about the unofficial/fake ballot boxes; any emails mentioning or about the unofficial ballot boxes; or any communications with the United States Postal Service or city/county sanitation services about the unofficial ballot boxes, a search was conducted, and the responsive records have been provided to you. 

With regards to your request for any photos, video, or voicemails related to the unofficial ballot boxes, in accordance with Section 6254(f) of the California Government Code, records of investigations conducted by, or investigatory files compiled by, any local police agency for law enforcement purposes, are exempt from disclosure.  The records you seek, including video evidence, are investigative records or properly part of an investigatory file; therefore, we are denying your request.  Should any records be located, they may be available in response to a subpoena or court order.

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

Respectfully,

LAPD Discovery Section, CPRA Unit

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>

City of Los Angeles

************************************************************************

Hi there

A document has been released for record request #20-7378:

* NR20-7378_emails.pdf

************************************************************************
<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Los Angeles.<br></br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href='https://www.nextrequest.com/support'>help page</a>