Police Data Collection Request (2020)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
Thank you for your interest in public records of the City of Omaha. Your request has been received and is being processed. Your request was received in this office on 12/22/2022 and given the reference number P001090-122222 for tracking purposes. Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Nebraska Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2020.

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained for 2020.

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained for 2020.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2020.

When available, I would appreciate being sent individualized data for each item in this request in spreadsheet format. If individualized data are unavailable, please send information that includes aggregate statistics for the item instead.

Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints alleging police misconduct, please do not include complaints filed by one officer/the department against another officer.

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 4 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request will be forwarded to the relevant department(s) to locate the information you seek and to determine the volume and any costs associated with satisfying your request.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below.

City of Omaha

--- Please respond above this line ---


City of Omaha
Jean Stothert, Mayor Todd R. Schmaderer
Chief of Police

Omaha Police Department
“To Serve and Protect”
505 South 15th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68102-2769
(402) 444-5600
(402) 444-5898
police.cityofomaha.org (mailto:police.cityofomaha.org)
Good morning,
I have received your request and will get to work on it. Please be aware with the holiday there may be a little delay in getting the information back.
Thank you!

--- Please respond above this line ---


City of Omaha
Jean Stothert, Mayor Todd R. Schmaderer
Chief of Police

Omaha Police Department
“To Serve and Protect”
505 South 15th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68102-2769
(402) 444-5600
(402) 444-5898
police.cityofomaha.org (mailto:police.cityofomaha.org)
Good morning,
I have our Internal Affairs Unit working on this request. I appreciate your patience.
Thank you

--- Please respond above this line ---


City of Omaha
Jean Stothert, Mayor Todd R. Schmaderer
Chief of Police

Omaha Police Department
“To Serve and Protect”
505 South 15th Street
Omaha, Nebraska 68102-2769
(402) 444-5600
(402) 444-5898
police.cityofomaha.org (mailto:police.cityofomaha.org) Dear Mr. Sinyangwe, On behalf of Chief of Police Todd Schmaderer, I am responding to your request for Omaha Police Department records. Your request is made pursuant to the provisions of the Nebraska Public Records Act. In your request dated December 23, 2022 you sought the following information: 1. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2020. 2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained for 2020. 3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained for 2020. 4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2020. This is the response required by NEB. REV. STAT. § 84-712, et seq. The Nebraska public records statute allows persons the right to examine public records in the possession of public agencies during normal agency business hours, to make memorandum and abstracts from those public records, and to obtain copies of public records in certain circumstances. The statute do not require a public agency to review documents and create abstracts or other lists, to answer questions, or to create documents that do not otherwise exist. See NEB.REV.STAT. § 84-712. Although the Nebraska public records statutes provided for access to public documents, such access is not absolute. The statutes also provide for exceptions to disclosures by express and special provisions; there are 21 categories of documents that may be kept confidential from the public at the discretion of the agency involved. See Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712.05. I have uploaded an Excel spreadsheet with the information you have requested. Please be aware these are not individual complaints, but allegations assigned to a complaint. Please look at the "IA Number" to group them. Contact me for any clarification, if needed. Section 84-712.03 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes may grant you the right to administrative or judicial review of this response. Please consult the statute for further information. Chief of Police Todd Schmaderer is responsible for denying a portion of your request. Thank you for your patience in my response to this request. I'm sorry it took some time to get the data. If you have any questions about the legal basis for this response or need any clarification, please contact me at 402.444.5259. Sincerely, Neal Bonacci