Police Data Collection Request (2020-2021)

Samuel Sinyangwe

Thank you for your interest in public records of the City of Spokane.  Your request has been received and is being processed.  Your request was received in this office on April 03, 2022 and given the reference number P003223-040322 for tracking purposes.
Date/Date Range Start:
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Description of Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Washington 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 2020 and 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2020, the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2020, 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 2020 and 2021.

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2020 and 2021.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2020 and 2021.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2020 and 2021.

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2020 and 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.

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 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

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

Your request will be forwarded to the relevant City department(s) to locate the records you seek and to determine the volume and any costs associated with satisfying your request.  You will be contacted about the availability of the records in question.
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 Spokane Records Center.
City of Spokane

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If you wish to submit a response, update an existing request, check the status of an already submitted request, or submit a new public records request, please do so by replying to this notification or go through your “My Request Center” account on the City’s public records request portal
In accordance with the Public Records Act (PRA), RCW 42.56.520, this message acknowledges receipt of your PRA request, received by the City of Spokane on April 3, 2022.  This request has been assigned tracking number P003223-040322.  Please use this number in any communications concerning this request.
Specifically, you requested: To Whom It May Concern:”

Pursuant to the Washington 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 2020 and 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2020, the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2020, 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 2020 and 2021.

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained in 2020 and 2021.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained in 2020 and 2021.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2020 and 2021.

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 2020 and 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.

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 5 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Our procedure is to locate records, review them for exemptions, and then prepare them for your inspection and/or copying.  The undersigned will be coordinating with other City departments in the collection and production of responsive records.
Your request has been forwarded to Internal Affairs staff in the Spokane Police Department for review and compiling of any responsive records.  We anticipate an installment will be available in approximately 40 days, or on or about May 18, 2022.  We will follow up with you on or about that date regarding the status of your request.  If public records become available in advance of this estimate, we will let you know.  Conversely, if City staff encounters a need to extend our estimate, we will advise accordingly.
Sincerely,
Laurie Farnsworth
Spokane Deputy City Clerk
To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the

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If you wish to submit a response, update an existing request, check the status of an already submitted request, or submit a new public records request, please do so by replying to this notification or go through your “My Request Center” account on the City’s public records request portal
Mr. Sinyangwe:
This is a follow up to Deputy City Clerk Laurie Farnsworth's message to you on April 8, 2022, regarding your public records request assigned P003223-040322.  Your public records request assigned P003223-040322 requested information for Years 2020 and 2021.
This is also to acknowledge receipt of your recent public records request assigned P005627-061322 wherein you seek the same information as you request under P003223-040322, with the exception that your new request only seeks information for Year 2021.
Both your requests are phrased as requests for information rather than identifiable public records.  However, Police-IA has compiled an Excel spreadsheet containing available data from their system and this document is available for your review under your "My Request Center" account on the City's public records request portal (GovQA).  The spreadsheet contains four tabs - "2020 Use of Force," "2021 Use of Force," "2020 Complaints," and "2021 Complaints."  The spreadsheet is available for viewing under both your requests - P003223-040322 and P005627-061322.
This completes our response to your requests and both requests (P003223-040322 and P005627-061322) are now closed.  If you feel we have overlooked anything in responding to your request, or if we may be of additional assistance, please let us know.
Sincerely,
Terri Pfister
Spokane City Clerk
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If you wish to submit a response, update an existing request, check the status of an already submitted request, or submit a new public records request, please do so by replying to this notification or go through your “My Request Center” account on the City’s public records request portal
Mr. Sinyangwe:
I intended to add in my June 15 response to you from a few minutes ago the following:
Upon review of the available spreadsheet, you will be able to perform your own tally of the information to arrive at the "total number" to address the inquiries in your request.
Again, if we may be of additional assistance, please advise.
Sincerely,
Terri Pfister
City Clerk
To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the

If you wish to submit a response, update an existing request, check the status of an already submitted request, or submit a new public records request, please do so by replying to this notification or go through your “My Request Center” account on the City’s public records request portal

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:

Thank you for submitting your public records request through The Spokane Public Records Center. We would like to invite you to take a short survey on your experience.

Please click the following link if you would like to participate.
Customer Satisfaction Survey (https://u8387778.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=6HtRfOYLt5fXvpttM-2FU1HSVD4CrS9uFW2stupoI-2F3P-2FCR9v4w4dDGSabyWOuZGyKOxaNTcvv-2F4ALTGWf3-2FBgaDnMu6wKPaejYq7JYvoIRLTjWY0lOD-2BGHmBgVbLalF9PNP4cKG0vaINMqkAWfEfbs0ZRZTAwLUTS8l1MmKO1KOu9ZHV029II0CcxQSjr5zSYmviQ6wJ51w2PhkmA-2Bp9u3A-3D-3DnC0W_KBLE-2B7jLi1KVOhGCuMYtFVionZm0MgdhiyiqJuQJ-2FWtXnv7Q5-2Bs48D6O85y6dEVxLNFGKOqPEW1PckPomM3Bc81l9VD8tIM383kE9KK8d2BAIHmbQ4C7AnY18EU0paoN0Fnmn8GDYJEjNsJFHkJm8tGDd400YQK-2FIMJ72ITeKNcG-2Fas-2FWLfA9S6KAcYITuzRx7EKtPDvfEhUp8A9kitEt3i3kUD-2FW4AMJAxWVR06mxO-2Fh-2B2dJjGwTAT86AovYgaQCNgnaW6kubON15NAT5TEyvIBTLHn5hgyJmn-2FCGVSmvKvi3Jg2HiEfR5xMo940Tw6vOcC19lF4qtA3cELUhNP3YwpPbS-2FVysacWF7gb0ZXFl-2B3Gx5mk6sZeooBlD6jo5gqljJ1sTemI-2F38uuWwT-2FUOg-3D-3D)

We appreciate your feedback.
Thank you.