Internal police policies on domestic violence committed by employees (Shreveport Police Department)

To Whom it may concern,

The City of Shreveport has received your Public Records Request. We are compiling the information but we ask for an extension on time to complete this request.

Gernine Mailhes
Assistant City Attorney
City of Shreveport
505 Travis Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101
Phone: 318 673-5200
Fascimile: 318 673-5230
Email: gernine.mailhes@shreveportla.gov<mailto:gernine.mailhes@shreveportla.gov>

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The City of Shreveport objects to your July 29, 2020 Public Records Request
propounded to the Shreveport Police Department because it is too broad,
seeks documents not subject to disclosure, would require an extensive amount
of manpower and cannot be responded to in the manner in which it is phrased.

Your requested time frame of ten years is excessive as records are not
maintained beyond the 7 years required by Louisiana law. Internal Affairs
records are not maintained in the manner in which you have requested them.

The Public Records Act, within its framework of protecting public access to
public records, must also be read as protecting the custodians of public
records from overly burdensome requests that interfere with operations of
the custodian's other legal duties. See, e.g., La. R.S. 44:32(A),
44:33(A)(2). The custodian may address these burdens and avoid disruption by
having these activities done using overtime or additional personnel for this
response, with the requesting party responsible for the payment of
reasonable costs incurred by the custodian in accommodating the requesting
party. The custodian may require that these fees be paid in advance. This
doctrine, we believe, includes within its scope the payment of additional
personnel costs that may be incurred to expedite the inspection/copying
process outside of normal business activity. Additionally, The City of
Shreveport cannot produce documents which it cannot reasonably access in the
manner in which they have been requested. Some of the documents you request
are also classified as records containing investigative training information
and techniques and follow up reports for arrests. They may also seek
information relevant to pending or criminal litigation or criminal
litigation which is reasonably anticipated.

We estimate that the efforts necessary to compile and redact
documents that may be responsive to your requests would require numerous
hours, the exact number of which cannot be calculated at this time. Staff
will have to be compensated for that activity, which is ordinarily
accomplished by providing overtime pay to personnel.

If you are able to rephrase your request and limit the scope of the
requested information, a cost estimate can be provided. Pursuant to the
Louisiana Public Records Act, the City will ask that you deposit sums
sufficient to satisfy the necessary fees. Upon receipt of your payment and
instruction as to how you wish to proceed, the City will undertake the work
necessary to fulfill your request using overtime and provide you with
responsive but non-exempt and redacted documents.

Joseph S. Woodley

318 221 1800

The City of Shreveport objects to your Public Records Request of July 29,
2020 propounded to the Shreveport Police Department because it is too
broad, seeks documents not subject to disclosure, would require an extensive
amount of manpower and cannot be responded to in the manner in which it is
phrased.

Your requested time frame of ten years is excessive as some records are not
maintained beyond the time period required by Louisiana law. Internal
Affairs and other records are not maintained in the manner in which you have
requested them.

The Public Records Act, within its framework of protecting public access to
public records, must also be read as protecting the custodians of public
records from overly burdensome requests that interfere with operations of
the custodian's other legal duties. See, e.g., La. R.S. 44:32(A),
44:33(A)(2). The custodian may address these burdens and avoid disruption by
having these activities done using overtime or additional personnel for this
response, with the requesting party responsible for the payment of
reasonable costs incurred by the custodian in accommodating the requesting
party. The custodian may require that these fees be paid in advance. This
doctrine, we believe, includes within its scope the payment of additional
personnel costs that may be incurred to expedite the inspection/copying
process outside of normal business activity. Additionally, The City of
Shreveport cannot produce documents which it cannot reasonably access in the
manner in which they have been requested. Some of the documents you request
mat also be classified as records containing investigative training
information and techniques and follow up reports for arrests. They may also
seek information relevant to pending or criminal litigation or criminal
litigation which is reasonably anticipated.

We estimate that the efforts necessary to compile and redact
documents that may be responsive to your requests would require numerous
hours, the exact number of which cannot be calculated at this time. Staff
will have to be compensated for that activity, which is ordinarily
accomplished by providing overtime pay or compensatory time to personnel.

At this time, the cost estimate for responding to this request is $6,000.00.
If you are able to rephrase your request and limit the scope of the
requested information, a reduced cost estimate can be provided. Pursuant to
the Louisiana Public Records Act, the City asks that you deposit sums
sufficient to satisfy the necessary fees. If you cannot limit your request,
only an estimate of costs is provided which will have to be paid in advance
with the balance, if any, paid before any documents can be released. Upon
receipt of instruction as to how you wish to proceed and the payment of the
estimate, the City will undertake the work necessary to fulfill your request
using overtime or compensatory time and provide you with responsive but
non-exempt and redacted documents.

Please forward your check payable to "Shreveport Police Department" in the
noted amount to me at 400 Texas St., Ste 400, Shreveport, LA 71101.

Joseph S. Woodley

318 221 1800