Seattle, WA Police Department Drone Documents

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to RCW Ch. 42.56 (Public Records Act), I hereby request the following records:

1. any requests for proposals, proposals submitted by vendors, contracts, budgets or cost allocations for the purchase and/or use of aerial drones, UAs, UAVs, and UASs (hereinafter “drones”);

2. any policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on department use of drones, including on the legal process required (such as a warrant or court order), if any, before operating a drone;

3. any departmental records concerning this department’s use of drones now or plans to use drones in the future including:

a. the types of investigations or instances in which this department is using or plans to use drones, or how it plans to support, manage or oversee the usage of drones by another department or office;

b. policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on storage requirements or procedures for video or static images obtained through use of drones, including retention times;

c. the altitude at which drones can or do fly;

d. drones’ ability to carry weapons.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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,

Drone Watch

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

Hi Alyne,

This is Tom Nash from MuckRock. We just got a package in the mail today from SPD that the post office says was received without its contents. Looks like the documents may have been too heavy for the envelope. Resending either by mail or email would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Tom

Hello,

Thank you to SPD for its assistance with this public records request, especially in light of the shipping issues.

MuckRock has reviewed the responsive documents, and would like clarification regarding one component. A directive dated August 15, 2012 indicated that Directive 12-032 and DP&P 6.255 had been rescinded. The latter was included with the responsive documents, but Directive 12-032 was not. Was this part of the 4 redacted pages of indicated on the redaction log as "draft policy"? Furthermore, if DP&P 6.255 has been rescinded, has it been replaced with any other policy that governs SPD use of UAVs?

Thank you for your help with this matter.

Best regards,
Shawn Musgrave
MuckRock

Dear Ms. Hansen:

Thank you for all of your help on this records request. I've continued to review the documents and wondered whether you could confirm whether some additional documents and communications might exist that had not been included in what was sent. Details below.

-Please confirm whether any communications exist between SPD officers and Datron World Communications (George Zeigler) prior to November 4, 2011 and after May 7, 2012. Please send any additional communications with Datron that might exist.
-Please confirm whether any additional documents or communications exist regarding flight training conducted by or contracted through Wings Aloft. This might include a memo outlining "training and costs" indicated by an email from April 11, 2011. Please send any contracts, purchase orders or other relevant documents pertaining to Wings Aloft flight training.
-Please confirm whether any additional documents or communications exist regarding flight training conducted by or contracted through Rainier Flight Service. Please send any contracts, purchase orders or other relevant documents pertaining to Rainier Flight Service flight training.
-Please confirm whether any additional communications or relevant documents exist regarding the rescinding of D 12-032 and DP&P 6.255. Please send any documents relevant to this policy change, especially regarding the rationale underlying the rescinding of these policies without replacement guidelines.

Please let me know if I can clarify any of these requests. I very much appreciate your help and assistance throughout this request process.

Best regards,
Shawn Musgrave

Dear Ms. Hansen:

Thank you for all of your help on this records request. I've continued to review the most recent group of documents (postmarked October 17), and wondered whether you could confirm whether some additional documents and communications might exist that had not been included in what was sent. Details below.

-Please confirm whether any correspondence exists between Reuben Omelanchuck and law enforcement in Spokane County regarding a drone/UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)/UAS (unmanned aerial system) there. Please include any relevant correspondence dated August 1 to the present.

-Please confirm whether any correspondence exists between Reuben Omelanchuck and area law enforcement agencies regarding a demonstration of Datron's drone/UAS/UAV system. Please include any relevant correspondence dated August 2011 to present.

-Please confirm whether any additional documentation (including contracts, sales quotes, correspondence and expenditure documents) exists regarding impending or past purchases between Seattle Police Department and Leptron Industrial Robotic Helicopters. Please send all relevant documents dated January 2008 to present.

-Please confirm whether any new documents exist relevant to Seattle Police Department's policies, guidelines, manuals and/or instructions on department use of drones, including on the legal process required (such as a warrant or court order), if any, before operating a drone.

Please let me know if I can clarify any of these requests. I very much appreciate your help and assistance throughout this request process.

Best regards,
Shawn Musgrave

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on July 20, 2012. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.