FOIA -Covert surveillance programs, Counterintelligence Operations and Domestic Intelligence Activities (Lomita Sheriff’s Station - City of Rancho Palos Verdes)

To Whom It May Concern:

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

This FOIA request, submitted by Evan L Rees, seeks access to documents related to covert surveillance programs, counterintelligence operations, and domestic intelligence activities conducted by [Name of Government Agency] that may be synonymous with or reminiscent of tactics employed in historical programs such as COINTELPRO and MK Ultra. Specifically, this request aims to obtain records pertaining to activities that could be colloquially referred to as "Cointelpro 2.0" or any other covert programs undertaken by the agency involving surveillance, infiltration, disruption, or manipulation of individuals or groups within the United States.

Documents of interest include, but are not limited to:

1. Internal memoranda, directives, and communications discussing the planning, execution, and objectives of such covert operations, including any references to MK Ultra or similar programs.
2. Operational plans, strategies, and guidelines governing the conduct of surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities, including any involvement or coordination with community policing initiatives.
3. Records of surveillance operations, including logs, reports, and warrants obtained for monitoring targeted individuals or groups, including any watch lists or databases used for tracking.
4. Intelligence reports, assessments, and analyses generated as a result of surveillance and infiltration efforts, including any assessments related to private contractors involved in intelligence activities.
5. Training materials, manuals, and protocols used to educate personnel involved in covert operations, including any materials related to community alerts or coordination with neighborhood watch groups.
6. Budgetary documents related to the funding and allocation of resources for covert surveillance and intelligence activities.
7. Legal opinions, guidance, and interpretations concerning the legality and oversight of covert programs.
8. After-action reports, evaluations, and assessments conducted to review the effectiveness and impact of covert operations.

This request also encompasses documents related to activities synonymous with or related to "Cointelpro 2.0," including but not limited to covert surveillance programs, counterintelligence operations, undercover investigations, disruption programs, counterterrorism measures, covert infiltration tactics, political surveillance programs, coercive intelligence operations, and national security investigations.

Please process this request specifically for Evan L Rees, as the documents sought are requested in relation to myself.

I am specifically requesting expedited processing of this request, as the information sought is of timely and significant public interest.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Evan L Rees

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 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Evan L Rees

Subject: Follow-Up Request for FOIA Response

To Whom It May Concern,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to follow up on a California Public Records Act (CPRA) request I submitted on 3/24/2024 to the Lomita Sheriff’s Station - City of Rancho Palos Verdes regarding covert surveillance programs, counterintelligence operations, and domestic intelligence activities.

Despite the passage of time, I have not received a response to my initial request. I understand that processing such requests may take time, but I wanted to inquire about the status of my request and if there are any updates regarding the availability of the requested records.

For your reference, my original request, submitted on 3/24/2024, sought access to documents related to covert surveillance programs, counterintelligence operations, and activities reminiscent of historical programs such as COINTELPRO and MK Ultra. The request specifically addressed records pertaining to activities that could be colloquially referred to as "Cointelpro 2.0" or any other covert programs undertaken by the agency involving surveillance, infiltration, disruption, or manipulation of individuals or groups.

The time frame of the documents I am requesting is from 1/1/2006 to 4/14/2024.

Additionally, this request included a request for expedited processing due to the timely and overwhelming public interest in the information sought.

I am eager to receive a response to my request and would greatly appreciate any information regarding the expected timeline for processing or any additional steps I can take to facilitate the process.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
Evan L Rees
MuckRock News