Sheriff Data Collection Request (2021)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
Thank you for your interest in public records of Spokane County. Your request has been received and is being processed in accordance with the State of Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW. Your request was received in this office on 9/11/2022 and given the reference number S010457-091122 for tracking purposes. 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 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, etc.). Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in each year were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

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

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

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

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 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 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/
Not all public documents are available in electronic format. If the document(s) requested are not available electronically, we will make them available for inspection or by paper copy in accordance with the Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW.

Your request will be forwarded to the relevant department(s) to locate the information you seek and to determine the volume and any costs associated with satisfying your request. You will be contacted about the availability and/or provided with copies of the records in question. PLEASE NOTE: The State of Washington Public Records Act, Chapter 42.56 RCW, does not require a governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions.
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed.
Spokane County

--- Please respond above this line ---

Samuel Sinyangwe:
In accordance with the Public Records Act, RCW 42.56.520, this message acknowledges receipt of your public records request, received by Spokane County on 9/11/2022. This request has been assigned reference codeS010457-091122. Please include this code 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 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, etc.). Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in each year were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

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

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

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

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 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 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/
We reasonably anticipate an installment/requested records will be available on or before December 9, 2022. If public records become available in advance of this estimate, we will let you know. Conversely, if staff encounters a need to extend our estimate, we will advise accordingly.
With respect to audio recordings, please be advised that Spokane Regional Emergency Communications ("SREC") is the custodian of 911/Crime Check audio recordings as well as audio recordings of radio traffic. If you are attempting to obtain audio recordings of 911/Crime Check calls and/or radio traffic, you need to submit a separate request to SREC directly via the following link: https://srec911.com/
Finally, please be advised that there may be fees associated with the copying of public records. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with Spokane County's Public Records Request Policy and Fee Schedule, which can be found in the FAQs section.
Sincerely,
OZZIE D. KNEZOVICH, Sheriff
Spokane County
Tiffany Kinnick
Public Records Officer
Please do not update subject line above when replying.

--- Please respond above this line ---

Samuel Sinyangwe:
This message is to provide an update regarding your public records request assigned reference code S010457-091122. Please include this code 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 2021 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, etc.). Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in each year were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained in 2021.

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

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

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

6. the total number of officer involved shootings in 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 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/
The responsive records are now available for download in the “My Request Center” of the public records portal. Instructions for downloading the files follows:
* Navigate to the Spokane County Public Records Center by following the blue "Public Records Center" hyperlink contained in the footer of this email.
* Log in with your user name and password. You will be taken directly into this request.
* Click on the "Download All" button directly above the blue "Files" box. *If you have a pop-up blocker, you will need to allow pop-ups for this site in order for the files to download. After they have downloaded, if the files do not open automatically, they will appear in your computer's "Downloads" folder.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office is obligated to provide records in accordance with the Washington State Public Records Act. Please note that the records you have requested may contain images and/or descriptions of events that are considered graphic in nature and may not be suitable for children or those who are sensitive to such material.
In regard to data for the jail, you may want to submit a request to Spokane County Detention Center through the GovQA portal.
No additional responsive records were located. This is the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office final and definitive response to this request. This request is considered closed. PLEASE NOTE: If you want to pick up printed copies of the records from the Public Safety Building, you must call 509-477-6926 at least one business day before you plan to arrive so that we can have the records ready for you. Depending on the number of pages, printing charges may apply.
Sincerely,
OZZIE D. KNEZOVICH, Sheriff
Spokane County
Tiffany Kinnick
Public Records Officer
Please do not update subject line above when replying. To monitor the progress or update this request please log into the Public Records Center