GPS tracking tag launcher acquisition and use (Pierce County Sheriff's Department)
| Tracking # |
P015990-071321 |
| Multi Request | GPS tracking tag launcher acquisition and use |
| Submitted | July 13, 2021 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Phil Mocek
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. Records regarding your agency's acquisition of StarChase or other "GPS canon" devices (vehicle-mounted or hand-held GPS tracking tag launchers), including but not limited to invoices, purchase orders, contracts, loan agreements, evaluation agreements, solicitation letters, correspondence with companies and public agencies that provide the devices, and similar documents.
2. All nondisclosure agreements with StarChase, any other corporation, or any state or federal agencies, regarding your agency's actual or potential possession or use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software such as AppTrac-365
3. Records regarding policies and guidelines governing use of GPS tracking tag launchers, including but not limited to 1) when, where, how, and against whom they devices may be used, 2) under what circumstances administrative warrant, judicial warrant, or other legal process must, should, or should not be obtained prior to, during, or following direct or indirect use of the devices, 4) under what circumstances the existence or use of the devices must, should, or should not be revealed to judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, criminal defendants, or the general public., and 5) parallel construction techniques for use in avoidance of disclosure of the initial method of discovery of information gained initially by use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software
4. Training materials for use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software, including but not limited to memos, guidelines, or slideshows mentioning the technology
5. Records regarding any communications or agreements with wireless service providers (i.e., mobile phone carriers) concerning use of GPS tracking tag launchers
6. Procedures for the keeping of statistics about your agency's use of GPS tracking tag launchers
7. Records reflecting the number of investigations in which GPS tracking tag launchers were used, the number of those investigations that resulted in prosecutions, and the number of those investigations that resulted in convictions
8. Records reflecting a list of all criminal cases, with docket numbers if available, in which law enforcement officers or other staff used or arranged for the use of one or more GPS tracking tag launchers as part of the underlying investigations
9. All applications submitted to state or federal courts for warrants, orders, or other other authorization for use of GPS tracking tag launchers, as well as any warrants, orders, authorizations, denials of warrants, denials of orders, denials of authorization, and returns of warrants associated with those applications
10. Records regarding the use of GPS tracking tag launchers in closed investigations
11. Date and docket number of any responsive records that are sealed
12. All associated metadata
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 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Phil Mocek
From: Pierce County Sheriff's Department
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of July 13, 2021, PIR Reference # P015990-071321.
Dear Phil Mocek,
We have prepared invoice number INV21-P015990-1 for your Public Records requested by you on July 13, 2021 with Request Number P015990-071321.
You can pay online or remit your payment to the address on your invoice or in person.
Respectfully,
Rebecca Burke
From: Pierce County Sheriff's Department
--- Please respond above this line ---
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of July 13, 2021, Reference # P015990-071321.
July 19, 2021
Dear Phil Mocek,
In accordance with the Public Records Act, RCW 42.56, this letter acknowledges receipt of your request for records dated July 13, 2021 and received by Sheriff on July 13, 2021. Your request asks for the following:
“To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. Records regarding your agency's acquisition of StarChase or other "GPS canon" devices (vehicle-mounted or hand-held GPS tracking tag launchers), including but not limited to invoices, purchase orders, contracts, loan agreements, evaluation agreements, solicitation letters, correspondence with companies and public agencies that provide the devices, and similar documents.
2. All nondisclosure agreements with StarChase, any other corporation, or any state or federal agencies, regarding your agency's actual or potential possession or use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software such as AppTrac-365
3. Records regarding policies and guidelines governing use of GPS tracking tag launchers, including but not limited to 1) when, where, how, and against whom they devices may be used, 2) under what circumstances administrative warrant, judicial warrant, or other legal process must, should, or should not be obtained prior to, during, or following direct or indirect use of the devices, 4) under what circumstances the existence or use of the devices must, should, or should not be revealed to judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, criminal defendants, or the general public., and 5) parallel construction techniques for use in avoidance of disclosure of the initial method of discovery of information gained initially by use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software
4. Training materials for use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software, including but not limited to memos, guidelines, or slideshows mentioning the technology
5. Records regarding any communications or agreements with wireless service providers (i.e., mobile phone carriers) concerning use of GPS tracking tag launchers
6. Procedures for the keeping of statistics about your agency's use of GPS tracking tag launchers
7. Records reflecting the number of investigations in which GPS tracking tag launchers were used, the number of those investigations that resulted in prosecutions, and the number of those investigations that resulted in convictions
8. Records reflecting a list of all criminal cases, with docket numbers if available, in which law enforcement officers or other staff used or arranged for the use of one or more GPS tracking tag launchers as part of the underlying investigations
9. All applications submitted to state or federal courts for warrants, orders, or other other authorization for use of GPS tracking tag launchers, as well as any warrants, orders, authorizations, denials of warrants, denials of orders, denials of authorization, and returns of warrants associated with those applications
10. Records regarding the use of GPS tracking tag launchers in closed investigations
11. Date and docket number of any responsive records that are sealed
12. All associated metadata
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 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Phil Mocek
Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/
The Pierce County Sheriff's Department has completed its search for the first installment of records responsive to your request. This first installment consists of 3,149 pages of e-mails generated as a result of a department wide e-mail search conducted using the following search terms: "“StarChase” OR “GPS Canon” OR “GPS Tracking Tag Launchers” OR “AppTrac-365” from as far back as our IT Department is able to produce e-mails to July 14, 2021. The invoice for those records has been released to you via the Public Records Request Portal. According to the Pierce County Code 2.04.040: if you or your representative do not view, download, or pay for records assembled for you by the Public Disclosure Unit within 30 days of their availability, the agency will abandon and close your request. That means, if the the invoice that has been released to you today is not paid by Wednesday, August 18, 2021, this requested will be considered abandoned and your request will be closed. Please note that we will not provide you with another notice regarding this issue.
If you have any questions, believe we have somehow misunderstood your request(s) or wish to clarify your request, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Burke
Public Records Officer
Pierce County Sheriff
From: Phil Mocek
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $9.33 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
Pierce County
Public Disclosure Unit, Cindy Ray
#100
3602 Pacific Avenue S
Tacoma, WA 98414
From: Pierce County Sheriff's Department
--- Please respond above this line ---
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of July 13, 2021, Reference # P015990-071321.
Dear Phil Mocek,
Pierce County Sheriff received a request from you on July 13, 2021. Your request mentioned: “To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Washington Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. Records regarding your agency's acquisition of StarChase or other "GPS canon" devices (vehicle-mounted or hand-held GPS tracking tag launchers), including but not limited to invoices, purchase orders, contracts, loan agreements, evaluation agreements, solicitation letters, correspondence with companies and public agencies that provide the devices, and similar documents.
2. All nondisclosure agreements with StarChase, any other corporation, or any state or federal agencies, regarding your agency's actual or potential possession or use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software such as AppTrac-365
3. Records regarding policies and guidelines governing use of GPS tracking tag launchers, including but not limited to 1) when, where, how, and against whom they devices may be used, 2) under what circumstances administrative warrant, judicial warrant, or other legal process must, should, or should not be obtained prior to, during, or following direct or indirect use of the devices, 4) under what circumstances the existence or use of the devices must, should, or should not be revealed to judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, criminal defendants, or the general public., and 5) parallel construction techniques for use in avoidance of disclosure of the initial method of discovery of information gained initially by use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software
4. Training materials for use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software, including but not limited to memos, guidelines, or slideshows mentioning the technology
5. Records regarding any communications or agreements with wireless service providers (i.e., mobile phone carriers) concerning use of GPS tracking tag launchers
6. Procedures for the keeping of statistics about your agency's use of GPS tracking tag launchers
7. Records reflecting the number of investigations in which GPS tracking tag launchers were used, the number of those investigations that resulted in prosecutions, and the number of those investigations that resulted in convictions
8. Records reflecting a list of all criminal cases, with docket numbers if available, in which law enforcement officers or other staff used or arranged for the use of one or more GPS tracking tag launchers as part of the underlying investigations
9. All applications submitted to state or federal courts for warrants, orders, or other other authorization for use of GPS tracking tag launchers, as well as any warrants, orders, authorizations, denials of warrants, denials of orders, denials of authorization, and returns of warrants associated with those applications
10. Records regarding the use of GPS tracking tag launchers in closed investigations
11. Date and docket number of any responsive records that are sealed
12. All associated metadata
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 5 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Phil Mocek
Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/
Thank you, we have received your payment. In an effort to locate records responsive to your request I conducted a department wide e-mail search using the following terms: "StarChase" OR "GPS Canon" OR "GPS Tracking Tag Launchers" OR "AppTrac-365". This search had no start date, to ensure all e-mails within our archives would be searched to the date of your request, July 14, 2021. This search has yielded a total of 3,149 pages of e-mails and 3 native file attachments. I also contacted our department training sergeant to request any training materials that the department may have for “… Use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software, including but not limited to memos, guidelines, or slideshows mentioning the technology.” He advised that, "The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department has never purchased or utilized StarChase or any other “GPS Cannon” devices. We do not have any polices or training materials that discuss GPS Tracking Tag Launchers. The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department does not have any records responsive to this request." This request was also sent out to our command staff to ascertain if we have any records responsive to this request, to which they advised no, as our department does not and has not ever utilized this technology. However, as you will note in the e-mails released to you, a select few of our department members were interested in acquiring this technology several years ago, but that was never fulfilled as we did not obtain funding or permission. Lastly, I contacted the office assistant in charge of maintaining records regarding contracts, agreements, etc., and they advised that we do not have records responsive to your request. As we do not utilize StarChase, "GPS Canon", or other "GPS Tracking Tag Launchers", we do not have records responsive to your request beyond the e-mail search that was conducted. Responsive records have been released to you via the Public Records Request Portal. Please see the attached exemption log for additional information regarding redactions and exemptions that apply to these records.
To log back into your account, use this link to access the webpage: https://piercecountywa.govqa.us/WEBAPP/_rs/login.aspx. On this page, select “My Request Center” and log into your account, select your request, and “View Files”. Click on “Download All” icon to open the PDF.
If you have any questions, believe we have somehow misunderstood your request(s) or wish to clarify your request, please do not hesitate to contact me. As I have determined that our department does not have any additional records responsive to your request, I am closing this request in that I have responded to it in full.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Burke
Public Records Officer
Pierce County Sheriff
Files
pages