Police Data Collection Request (2021)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:

Thank you for submitting a request for public records to Riverside County Sheriff's Department. Your request was received in this office on 8/14/2022 and given the reference number C000615-081422 for tracking purposes.
Records Requested: " To Whom It May Concern:

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

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used in 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, etc.)

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2021, both fatal and non-fatal.

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 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

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Pursuant to California Government Code § 6253, staff will review your request and respond within 10 days to notify you if there are responsive records, or if an extension is necessary to determine if responsive records exist.  If your request was received after business hours or on a weekend or holiday, the next business day will be considered the date of receipt. The 10-day response period starts with the first calendar day after the date of receipt (Ca. Civ. Code, § 10.).  You may be contacted by the department if there are questions regarding your request.

PLEASE NOTE: The California Public Records Act (CPRA) does not require a governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions.

You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Records Request System.
Riverside County Sheriff's Department

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: Public Records Request of August 14, 2022, Reference # C000615-081422

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,

On August 14, 2022, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department received your request for records under the California Public Records Act (CPRA) wherein you requested the following: "To Whom It May Concern:

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

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used in 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, etc.)

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2021, both fatal and non-fatal.

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 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department is in the process of gathering and reviewing the requested records. Your request will take extra time to fulfill because of the need to search for and collect the requested records from field facilities or other establishments that are separate from the office processing the request.

Consequently, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department is exercising its authority under Government Code section 6253(c), to extend the time to reply to a Public Records Act request.  You will receive a more complete response no later than September 08, 2022.

Thank you for your patience in awaiting this information.

Sincerely,

Sergeant Justin Pittenger J.D.
CPRA Unit
Riverside County Sheriff's Department

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: Public Records Request of August 14, 2022, Reference # C000615-081422

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,

On August 14, 2022, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department received your request for records under the California Public Records Act (CPRA) wherein you requested the following:
To Whom It May Concern:

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

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used in 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, etc.)
Total # of use of force incidents: 1384
Taser usage: 199 (131 probes, 30 drive stuns, 38 stun shield)
Impact Weapons use: 23 (17 expandable baton, 1 riot baton, 5 improvised weapon)

The following information will be related to various techniques (control holds, takedowns, etc.) and personal body weapon ( fist, kick, knee, etc.).  These incidents will not coincide with the total number of use of force incidents.  During a use of force incident, several use of force options could be used and the program will count them all individually.  For illustration purposes only, if a deputy chases a suspect, tackles him, punches him, uses his taser; for this one use of force incident, the program would count each of those individually ( 1 taser, 1 takedown, 1 personal body weapon). Therefore, the numbers below should not be taken as indicative of an actual number or the usage, more the representation of tracking.

Various Techniques: 1256
Personal Body Weapons: 618 This information includes corrections, but does not include deputy involved shootings or K9 bites.
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021. Reported:  19 Sustained:  14

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021. Reported:  1 Sustained:  0

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021. Reported:  0 Sustained:  0

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021. Reported:  2 Sustained:  1

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2021, both fatal and non-fatal. Deputy Involved Shooting: 10 Please consider this CPRA request closed.

Sincerely,

Sergeant Justin Pittenger J.D.
CPRA Unit
Riverside County Sheriff's Department