Fusion Center MOUs + MOAs (Missouri Highway Patrol)

Dear Kevin Hawkins:
Our office received your open records request pursuant to Missouri's Sunshine Law, Chapter 610, RSMo. Your request has been assigned number P043727-091723. The Patrol is committed to adhering to the Sunshine Law and to ensuring that the public obtains access to open records that are not otherwise closed by law. The Sunshine Law requires each public agency to adhere to certain standards. This letter is designed to ensure that you understand our process for fulfilling your records request. Three Business Day Notice Requirement:
The requested records are not immediately available for dissemination or inspection. The Patrol is required to notify you that additional research time will be required to fulfill the request. This correspondence satisfies the Sunshine Law's notice requirement within the required three business day period. Section 610.023.3, RSMo.
Additional Research Time is Required:
The Patrol receives thousands of open records requests each month. Our Patrol Records Division personnel are dedicated to meeting the intent of Missouri's Sunshine Law and strive to respond to each request in a timely manner. The Patrol operates in all 114 Missouri counties and the independent city of St. Louis. Accordingly, many records maintained by the agency are not centrally located within, or immediately accessible to, the Patrol's Custodian of Records in Jefferson City. Our staff must research your request and ensure that we have captured all responsive records  ̶  regardless of their location within the agency. The research process is time-consuming, but we will make every effort to expedite your request. Estimated Time for Completion:
The majority of our requests are fulfilled within thirty business days. Some requests require additional research time due to their scope or complexity. Our team will conduct an initial review of your request. If we estimate that the request will be fulfilled within thirty business days, we will not send an updated time estimate. However, if we estimate that the request will take longer than thirty business days, we will provide an updated time estimate that provides a detailed justification for the additional research time. Billing:
As it relates to billing, Missouri law allows the Patrol to charge fees for copies and research time. Specifically, "[r]esearch time required for fulfilling records requests may be charged at the actual cost of research time." Section 610.026, RSMo. The Missouri Supreme Court recently determined that "staff time is the time required to provide access to public records maintained on computer facilities, recording tapes or disks, videotapes or films, pictures, maps, slides, graphics, illustrations or similar audio or visual items". Gross v. Parson, 624 S.W.3d 877, 884-89 (Mo. 2021) (internal quotations omitted).
The Patrol will never bill you for redaction time or any research time conducted by our legal staff. You will only be charged for copies and staff research time as permitted by Missouri law. Please let us know if you have questions related to the billing estimate.
Our team will forward a bill estimate to your attention once we have calculated the permissible costs and fees. The Patrol will not provide the responsive records until receipt of payment. Section 610.026.2, RSMo.
We appreciate your patience as we review, research, and fulfill your open records request. You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you will receive an email when your request has been completed. If you wish to withdraw or clarify your request, or if you have questions, please call our office at (573) 526-6146, or (573) 526-6167.

Sincerely,
Gerard G. Callahan
Custodian of Records

Login Link: https://mshp.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/Login.aspx

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RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of Reference # P043727-091723
Dear Kevin Hawkins,

The Missouri State Highway Patrol received a public records request from you on September 17, 2023. You requested: “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the The Missouri Sunshine Law, I hereby request the following records:

Copies of the current or most recent memorandum of agreement (MOA) or memorandum of understanding (MOU) between your law enforcement agency and any fusion centers.

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 3 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Kevin Hawkins

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
I have researched our records and can locate no Missouri State Highway Patrol documents at this time responsive to your request.
If you have questions, please contact me at the Patrol Records Division at 573-526-6167 or reply to this email.
Sincerely,
GERARD G. CALLAHAN, Lieutenant
Custodian of Records