Contracts and Policies Regarding IMSI Catchers (Maryland State Police)

Curtis Waltman filed this request with the Maryland State Police of Maryland.
Submitted Oct. 31, 2016
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Curtis Waltman

Subject: Public Information Act Request: Contracts and Policies Regarding IMSI Catchers (Maryland State Police)

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to Maryland's Public Information Act ("PIA"), I hereby request the following records:

Documents concerning IMSI catchers or any of the following words: "Stingray", "cell site simulator", or "dirtbox". including:
-Contracts with the Harris Corporation regarding the acquisition of their Stingray or KingFish IMSI catchers
-Department policies and procedure regarding the use of IMSI catcher technology
-policies and procedures on the keeping of statistics about the Department's use and acquisition of IMSI catchers

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 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Curtis Waltman

From: Doug Baralo -State Police-

Subject: Maryland State Police PIA Request (16-2040)

Email

Mr. Waltman:

This email is in response to you Maryland Public Information Act request in
which you requested information about IMSI catchers andf related items.
The responses to your requests are below.

1. Contracts with the Harris Corporation regarding the acquisition of their
Stingray or KingFish IMSI catchers.

Your request for access to any records concerning the acquisition of such
products is denied, pursuant to General Provisions Article § 4-3S1(a)(1)
and (a)(3) because the release of information identifying the manufacturer
and model of any such products would reveal investigative techniques or
procedures and intelligence information and could prejudice current and
future investigations. Additionally, release of confidential and
proprietary records of such products is prohibited under § 4-335. A copy of
2012 non-disclosure agreement between the Department and the Federal Bureau
of Investigation concerning the acquisition of such products is attached.
The identity of the manufacture is redacted for the reasons stated above.
Additionally phone numbers have been redacted at the direction of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation

2. Department policies and procedure regarding the use of IMSI catcher
technology.

The Department has no recorded polices or guidelines concerning the use of IMSI
catcher technology.

3. Policies and procedures on the keeping of statistics about the
Department's use and acquisition of IMSI catchers.

The Department has no recorded polices or guidelines concerning the keeping
of statistics on the acquisition or use of IMSI catchers.

The Maryland State Police can confirm that it does have a cell site
simulator that is used as an investigative tool to assist in locating
critical missing persons and wanted felons that is guided by and operated
in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Article § 1-203.1 and after a
court determines that there is probable cause to do so. The MSP does not
retain any third-party cell phone data, nor is any database maintained by
this Department when operating the technology.

You have the right, under §4-362 of the General Provisions Article, to seek
judicial review of this response to your Maryland Public Information Act
application by filing a complaint in the Circuit Court of the Maryland
county where you reside.

Please contact me if you have any questions about this response.

--
Captain
*Douglas J. Baralo, esq.*

Commander, Special Projects Division
Maryland State Police
1201 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, Maryland 21208

443.945.2211 - cell

The most dangerous phrase in the language is “We’ve always done it this
way!” - Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper

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