Request to Polk County Sheriff for Documents and Training on Dealing with Individuals with Autism

To Whom It May Concern:

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

I am requesting access to documents held by the Polk County Sheriff's Office related to their training and procedures for dealing with individuals with autism.

I am aware of the Polk County Sheriff's Office's Autism Decal program, which provides a way for individuals with autism and their caregivers to inform law enforcement officers of their condition. I am interested in any records, reports, memoranda, emails, or other documents related to the development and implementation of this program, including any policies, guidelines, or procedures related to the program.

Specifically, I am seeking any records, reports, memoranda, emails, or other documents related to the Polk County Sheriff's Office's training and procedures for dealing with individuals with autism, including any policies, guidelines, or procedures related to this training or procedures. I am also requesting any communications between the Polk County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies or government entities related to the training or procedures for dealing with individuals with autism.

Additionally, I am interested in any records, reports, memoranda, emails, or other documents related to any incidents involving individuals with autism and the Polk County Sheriff's Office, including any use of force or arrests.

I want to emphasize that I do not consent to the withholding, deletion, or redaction of any responsive records or documents, except in cases where the Polk County Sheriff's Office can provide a specific justification for why the records are exempt from disclosure under the Florida Public Records Law. Please provide me with any non-exempt records or documents in their entirety, including any segregable portions that may be released.

Furthermore, I hereby provide notice that any attempt to withhold, redact, or delete responsive records or documents without providing a specific justification for why they are exempt from disclosure will be met with a complaint and legal action to compel the Polk County Sheriff's Office to provide access to the requested records in accordance with the Florida Public Records Law.

In support of this request, I would like to reference relevant case law that affirms the public's right to access government records. One key case is Times Publishing Co. v. City of St. Petersburg, 558 So. 2d 487 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990), which held that the Florida Public Records Law reflects a "strong public policy in favor of access to public records." Another important case is News-Press Publishing Co. v. Carlson, 410 So. 2d 546 (Fla. 2d DCA 1982), which held that the Florida Public Records Law applies to all "writings made or received by an agency in connection with official business."

If any responsive records or documents are exempt from disclosure, I request that you provide me with a justification for each exemption relied upon.

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 10 business days.

Sincerely,

Good Citizen

I am writing to follow up on my previous email dated 04/06/2023 in which I requested access to records related to the Polk County Sheriff's Office's training and procedures for dealing with individuals with autism.

As part of my request, I referenced the Polk County Sheriff's Office's Autism Decal program, and I would like to provide additional information to support my request. I have attached a screenshot of the Polk County Sheriff's Office's website page related to the Autism Decal program, which serves as evidence of the existence of records related to the development and implementation of this program.

I would appreciate a response to my request as soon as possible. As a reminder, under the Florida Public Records Law, you are required to respond to my request within 10 business days. If there are any issues or delays in fulfilling my request, I would appreciate an explanation and an estimated timeline for when I can expect a response.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Good Citizen

Dear Carrie Horstman,

I hope this message finds you well. I wanted to follow up regarding the fee of $1,603.20 to produce the emails I requested related to the Polk County Sheriff's Office's Autism Decal Program. While I understand the extensive use of agency resources that this request would require, I was wondering if it would be possible to reevaluate the fee or consider alternative options to provide these emails.

I am still very interested in obtaining the requested information and I am willing to work with you to find a mutually agreeable solution. Please let me know if there are any other options available to reduce the cost, or if there is any additional information you need from me to help facilitate this process.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Best regards,

Jordan Lassiter

Dear Carrie Horstman,

Thank you for your prompt response to my previous inquiry regarding my FOIA request. I understand that the scope of my request may have been broad and may require further specification.

After reviewing your response, I would like to narrow the scope of my request to documents and emails related to autism within a three-year time frame, specifically from January 1st, 2020 to December 31st, 2022. I hope that this will help to reduce the estimated cost of the request.

To clarify, I am looking for records, reports, memoranda, emails, or other documents that mention or relate to autism within the specified time frame. If it is possible, please limit the search to emails and documents that include the keywords "autism," "autistic," or "autism spectrum disorder."

I appreciate your assistance in this matter and thank you in advance for your efforts to produce a responsive and accurate set of documents.

Sincerely,

Jordan Lassiter

Hi,

Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.

Sincerely,
Jordan Lassiter