Demographics Unit closing memo

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New York State Freedom of Information Law (1977 N.Y. Laws ch. 933), I hereby request the following records:

Any memos, communications, statements or other correspondence provided to personnel of the Zone Assessment Unit (formerly Demographics Unit) regarding the elimination of the unit and reassignment of personnel.

Per an NYPD statement provided to CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/15/us/nypd-muslims-spying-ends/), April 15, 2014:

""The Zone Assessment Unit, previously referred to as the demographics unit, has been largely inactive since January. Recently, as part of an ongoing assessment of Intelligence Bureau operations, personnel assigned to the Zone Assessment Unit were reassigned to other duties within the Intelligence Bureau."

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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,

Shawn Musgrave

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on April 22, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

Lt. Mantellino -

Please provide an update as to this request, and please direct the FOIL Unit to correspond with me by email regarding this request, as is my right to request under the New York FOIL statute.

-Shawn

Jonathan David
Records Access Appeals Officer
New York City Police Department
One Police Plaza - Room 1406
New York, NY 10038-1497

July 7, 2014

To Whom It May Concern:

This is an appeal for FOIL 2014-PL-3701, in which I requested memos sent to former personnel of the Zone Assessment Unit (formerly Demographics Unit) regarding reassignment and elimination of the unit. In the attached letter dated June 27 and postmarked July 1, Lieutenant Mantellino claims that no such memos exist. I appeal the adequacy of the search conducted by the FOIL Unit, and request that you remand this request for additional search and release of documents in good faith, as required under the NYPD's obligations under FOIL.

Given the considerable criticism of the Zone Assessment/Demographics Unit and media attention surrounding its closure, it is doubtful that there were absolutely no communications of the kind I have requested. That is, such memos/communications are common and standard for modifications to personnel allocation, and Lt. Mantellino's blanket response without qualification – which, I must note, he has errantly provided a number of times before – suggests that an inadequate search was conducted.

Please remand this FOIL request for additional search and release of responsive documents.

Respectfully,

Shawn Musgrave