Police data collection (Sanford Police Department)
| Multi Request | Police data collection |
| Submitted | Feb. 5, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Maine Freedom of Access Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. the total number of use of force incidents reported from 2017-2022, separated by year.
2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year, from 2017-2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2022, baton incidents in 2022, taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints against law enforcement that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
7. the total number of officer-involved shootings from 2017-2022, both fatal and non-fatal, separated by year.
8. the total number of people who police used force against in 2022, broken down by race/ethnicity.
When available, I would appreciate being sent individualized data 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, please do not include complaints filed by one officer/the department against another officer.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by 1 M.R.S.A. § 408(6). The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.
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,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Maine Freedom of Access Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on Feb. 7, 2024. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Sanford Police Department
February 7, 2024
Samuel Sinyangwe
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 158345
263 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
RE: Acknowledgment of Freedom of Access Act Request (FOAA)
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
This letter is to acknowledge, pursuant to 1 M.R.S.A § 408-A(3), that we received your Freedom of Access Act request on February 7, 2024 requesting access to certain records.
Please be aware that to the extent that any document exists that is excepted from the definition of public records, pursuant to 1 M.R.S. § 402(3), we deny your request.
Under the Maine FOAA, we are permitted to charge a fee to “cover the actual cost of searching for, retrieving, and compiling the requested public record of not more than $25 per hour after the two hours of staff time per request.” 1 M.R.S. § 408-A(8). This includes the time spent reviewing and redacting any confidential information.
We anticipate time/materials to be seven (7) hours to extract and send electronically by email those records readily available as requested pursuant to 16 M.R.S §708(2). Per Title 1 §408A(8)(B-1), we do not charge a fee for the first two (2) hours, but we do charge for the additional five (5) hours needed to compile the data in the format you requested. The total fee will be $125.00.
Compiling 2017-2019 will encompass most of the time needed to complete the request. We could provide 2000-2022 more easily as we changed how we recorded data in 2020, and could do this without a fee.
If you decide to proceed with the full request, we are asking for payment in advance under Title 1 §408-A(10)(A). Payment can be submitted to the department at the address above. After payment is received, we will proceed with your request and send it via email upon completion. If you would like only 2017-2020, please let me know.
Submitted,
Eric H. Small
Deputy Chief of Police
From: Sanford Police Department
We are still awaiting a response to as to whether you are sending payment. Please respond by March 1, 2024. Thank you.
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Please find enclosed a check for $125.00 to satisfy the fee associated with the attached public records request.
Thank you.
City Of Sanford
Sanford Police Department
935 Main Street
Sanford, ME 04073
From: Sanford Police Department
March 6, 2024
Samuel Sinyangwe
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 158345
263 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
RE: Response to Freedom of Access Act Request (FOAA)
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
This letter is in response to the Maine Freedom of Access Act request you submitted on February 7, 2024, in which you requested the following material:
1. the total number of use of force incidents reported from 2017-2022, separated by year.
2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year, from 2017-2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2022, baton incidents in 2022, taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints against law enforcement that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
7. the total number of officer-involved shootings from 2017-2022, both fatal and non-fatal, separated by year.
8. the total number of people who police used force against in 2022, broken down by race/ethnicity.
We received your response on February 26th indicating that you would be sending payment and we began a search of our records. On March 4th we received your check. Thank you. Please find the attached data that you requested.
Submitted,
Eric H. Small
Deputy Chief of Police
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