Shotspotter data (Seattle Police Department)

At this time, the Seattle Police Department’s Legal Unit is operating under an extreme backlog of requests, staffing shortages, the redeployment of supporting units to SPD’s frontline COVID-19 response, and, pursuant to CDC recommendations and City direction, reassignment to remote access. We apologize for any inconvenience, and deeply appreciate your understanding as we all pull together, in the face of this unprecedented, pandemic public crisis, to manage as best we can our business operations.

Dear Todd Feathers:

Thank you for using the Seattle Police Public Records Request Center.

Your request was received on April 22, 2021and the reference number is P073564-042221.

If the City's representative entered your request into the system and you didn't specifically register:

* Access the Police Public Records Request Center
* Access the "My Records Request Center"
* Access the "View My Requests"
* Enter the E-Mail below (should be the E-Mail you gave the representative)
* At the login prompt click the forgotten password link
* You will be sent a temporary password to login and then change to a permanent password
Please use the center to track the progress of your requests, pay for your requests online, and download your records!

Here is your login: requests@muckrock.com
Request Summary Incident Information (if provided):

* Incident Number:
* Incident Date:
* Incident Time:
* Incident Location:
* Investigating Officers:
Request Description and Details (as provided):

* Overall Description:
To Whom It May Concern:

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

1) A list, database, or comparable record of every alert that has been generated by the department's Shotspotter technology since January 1, 2016. The list/database should include, where possible, the date, time, location (address or latitude+longitude coordinates), single or multiple shot distinction, whether the shots were confirmed, and associated case number for each alert.

I ask that all fees be waived as I am a journalist and intend to use the requested records to publish articles in the public interest. In the event you choose to impose fees, I request a detailed breakdown of the fees, including the hourly wage of each employ involved and an explanation justifying the employee hours required to fulfill the request.

Should you choose to reject this request or redact portions of it, I ask that you provide a detailed breakdown of the statutory exemptions and associated case law underlying your decision to withhold each/any portions from public review.

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,

Todd Feathers

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04/23/2021

Todd Feathers
requests@muckrock.com

RE: Public Disclosure Request #: P073564-042221

Dear Todd Feathers,

This communication is in response to your public disclosure request.

The purpose of this correspondence is to provide you a status update. Your request status is: Assigned.

If you have any questions, you may send messages using the Police Records Request Center or call the Public Disclosure Desk at 206-684-5481.
Please add seattle@mycusthelp.net to your E-mail contacts/address book to ensure delivery of the record center E-mails to your Inbox. (mailto:seattle@mycusthelp.net)

This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY.

SPD receives between 7000 and 8000 public records requests annually and is processing between 1400 to 1500 open requests at a time. This may result in a slower than anticipated response to your request. Thank you for your patience.

04/23/2021

Todd Feathers
requests@muckrock.com

RE:  Public Disclosure Request#: P073564-042221

Dear Todd Feathers,

This communication is in response to your public disclosure request.


The purpose of this correspondence is to provide you a status update.  Your request status is:  Being Researched/Reviewed.

If you have any questions, you may send messages using the Police Records Request Center or call the Public Disclosure Desk at 206-684-5481.


Please add seattle@mycusthelp.net to your E-mail contacts/address book to ensure delivery of the record center E-mails to your Inbox.

This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY.

SPD receives between 7000 and 8000 public records requests annually and is processing between 1400 to 1500 open requests at a time. This may result in a slower than anticipated response to your request. Thank you for your patience.

--- Please respond above this line ---

04/23/2021

Todd Feathers
requests@muckrock.com

RE: Public Disclosure Request#: P073564-042221

Dear Todd Feathers,

Hello Mr. Feathers -
This communication is in response to your public disclosure request received on April 22, 2021. At this time, the Seattle Police Department’s Legal Unit is operating under an extreme backlog of requests, staffing shortages, the redeployment of supporting units to SPD’s frontline COVID-19 response, and, pursuant to CDC recommendations and City direction, reassignment to remote access. We apologize for any inconvenience, and deeply appreciate your understanding as we all pull together, in the face of this unprecedented, pandemic public crisis, to manage as best we can our business operations.
Pursuant to RCW 42.56.520, this is notification that the Seattle Police Department has received your public disclosure records request and needs additional time to respond.
At this time, we anticipate having a response or a status update to you on or about 7/2/2021.
We are initiating the process of researching your request, collecting responsive records, and/or preparing records for dissemination.
Thank you,
Tara Collings

If you have any questions, you may send a message using the Police Records Request Center or call the Public Disclosure Desk at 206-684-5481.

Sincerely,
Tara Collings
Seattle Police Department
Legal Unit

SPD receives between 7000 and 8000 public records requests annually and is processing more than 2000 open requests at a time. This may result in a slower than anticipated response to your request. Thank you for your patience.

As a reminder you can login at the Police Records Request Center where you can access Police online information, manage your profile, submit record requests, track your request status, receive and send messages, make payments, view frequently asked questions, and download your records.
Please add seattle@mycusthelp.net to your E-mail contacts/address book to ensure delivery of the record center E-mails to your Inbox. (mailto:seattle@mycusthelp.net)

--- Please respond above this line ---

07/01/2021

Todd Feathers
requests@muckrock.com

RE: Public Disclosure Request#: P073564-042221

Dear Todd Feathers,

Hello Mr. Feathers -

This communication is in response to your public disclosure request received on April 22, 2021.

We do not have a record or the ability to readily create a record that contains the information you are seeking. The Public Record Act does not require us to perform research projects or develop data for information requests. RCW 42.56.080.

In an effort to locate records responsive to your request, we contacted the Assistant Chief of Investigations and the Data Analytics Unit and they both confirmed that the Seattle Police Department does not use Shotspotter technology. Therefore, we have no records responsive to your request.

If you wish to appeal the search, production, or application of any exemption in connection with this request you may submit an appeal in writing to the Seattle Police Legal Unit within ten (10) business days from the date you received your records.

Please include your name and address, a copy of any redacted files, and a copy of this letter together with a brief statement identifying the basis of the appeal.

Please mail or deliver your appeal to:

Seattle Police Department
Attn: Legal Unit
610 Fifth Avenue
P.O. Box 34986
Seattle, WA 98124-4986

This message closes your request.

Thank you,
Tara Collings

If you have any questions, you may send a message using the Police Records Request Center or call the Public Disclosure Desk at 206-684-5481.

Sincerely,
Tara Collings
Seattle Police Department
Legal Unit

SPD receives between 7000 and 8000 public records requests annually and is processing more than 2000 open requests at a time. This may result in a slower than anticipated response to your request. Thank you for your patience.

As a reminder you can login at the Police Records Request Center where you can access Police online information, manage your profile, submit record requests, track your request status, receive and send messages, make payments, view frequently asked questions, and download your records.
Please add seattle@mycusthelp.net to your E-mail contacts/address book to ensure delivery of the record center E-mails to your Inbox. (mailto:seattle@mycusthelp.net)