North Charleston PD use of force/complaints data
| Submitted | May 18, 2016 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. Every use of force report made by North Charleston police officers since 2000.
2. Every civilian complaint filed against North Charleston police officers since 2000.
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 15 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Woodall, Beth
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe,
The City of North Charleston is in receipt of your Freedom of Information Act request dated May 18, 2016. In your request you ask for a cost estimate in advance of any work being done. Based upon the large scope of your request (16 years of data), we have estimated that it will take a dedicated employee approximately 64 hours to compile the data. The total projected cost is $1,918.00. The City will need a deposit in that amount prior to undertaking work. If it turns out that the costs are less than expected, we will issue a refund. If they are more, we will bill you for the balance. I will wait to hear back from you as to how you wish for us to proceed.
Thank you,
Beth Woodall
Legal Assistant
City of North Charleston
2500 City Hall Lane
North Charleston, SC 29406
bwoodall@northcharleston.org<mailto:bwoodall@northcharleston.org>
Tel: 843.740.2550
Fax: 843.745.1082
www.northcharleston.org<http://www.northcharleston.org/>
a great place to live, work, or play
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From: Samuel Sinyangwe
Just to confirm before I submit this payment, upon payment of $1,918 you will be submitting the full unredacted copies of use of force reports and civilian complaints since 2000?
Thanks,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Woodall, Beth
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe - Upon payment of the deposit the City will begin collecting the existing reports you requested and, as described previously, bill against the deposit you place on file. The City does not anticipate wholesale redactions or intend to redact the reports en masse on the basis that they are "use of force" or "civilian" complaints. However, a variety of privacy statutes and FOIA exemptions exist such as redaction of private, personal information such as social security numbers and names of juveniles just to name a few. I would expect to see such redactions, where appropriate, in any material you are provided. Prior to searching and gathering the documents for review it is impossible to state with precision what specific redactions will ultimately occur. Please let the City know if you would like to proceed.
Beth Woodall
Legal Department
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
Would the following be redacted?
1. names of officers reporting each use of force or;
2. names of officers named in each civilian complaint (where identified by the complainant)
Thanks,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Woodall, Beth
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe,
Officer's names would not be redacted.
Thank you,
Beth Woodall
From: Woodall, Beth
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe,
Though you directed your email to Spencer Pryor in the Police Department, I am responding inasmuch as I am the one who was previously corresponding with you about this FOIA. In my last email to you I quoted a fee of $1918 to produce sixteen years of documents. I am now told that you have scaled back your time frame to 2010, so six years of records. I am happy to develop a new costs estimate for you and will be back in touch shortly.
Also, the City of North Charleston has an online FOIA Portal which facilitates FOIA production. In the future, if you would use the portal, that will eliminate some of the confusion.
North Charleston FOIA Requests <http://mygovhelp.org/NORTHCHARLESTONSC/_rs/SupportHome.aspx?lp=2>
Thank you,
Beth Woodall
Legal Assistant
City of North Charleston
2500 City Hall Lane
North Charleston, SC 29406
bwoodall@northcharleston.org<mailto:bwoodall@northcharleston.org>
Tel: 843.740.2550
Fax: 843.745.1082
www.northcharleston.org<http://www.northcharleston.org/>
a great place to live, work, or play
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Please do not print this e-mail unless necessary.
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From: Samuel Sinyangwe
Thanks Beth, I look forward to hearing the new cost estimate.
-Sam
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 18, 2016. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Woodall, Beth
Dear Sam,
Please see the highlighted portion below wherein I responded to your request (for cost estimate) on August 18, 2016.
Also, I would like to clarify that you presently have two requests to us-the first one (25775) which requested 16 years of data and the second one (26825), which narrows the scope down to six years of data. I consider the first one (25775) to be closed since you amended it with the submission of the second one, 26825. In both instances, I have provided you with cost estimates.
Please clarify whether you wish to proceed with the second one (26825). If you wish to proceed, please remit the funds as described below within 14 days. If the funds are not received within fourteen days, I will consider this request closed, as well.
Thank you,
Beth Woodall