Massachusetts Police Data Collection (Springfield Police Department)

Samuel Sinyangwe filed this request with the Springfield Police Department of Springfield, MA.
Tracking #

R004143-081821

Status
Completed

Communications

From: Samuel Sinyangwe

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 15 taser incidents in 2018, 27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2013, 18 baton incidents in 2014, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-2020 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
7. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

From: Springfield Police Department

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
The City of Springfield is in receipt of your public records request.
Your request has been forwarded to the appropriate department[s] and a response will be sent to you as soon as we have obtained and reviewed any document[s] that may be responsive to your request. Your request was received in this office on 8/18/2021 and given the reference number R004143-081821 for tracking purposes.
Pursuant to M.G.L. .c. 66, §10(b) the City has ten [10] business days to respond to your request.
Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 CMR 32.00 and M.G.L. c. 66, §10(b).
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Thank you for using the Public Records Center.
The City of Springfield

From: Springfield Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 18, 2021, Reference # R004143-081821
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 15 taser incidents in 2018, 27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2013, 18 baton incidents in 2014, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-2020 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
7. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

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

Please be advised this is an update with regards to your request. As of today, I am not in receipt of many documents responsive to your request. However, in a continued effort to fulfil your public records request an additional 15-day extension is required. The SPD continues to experience daily crisis throughout the city, while putting in the efforts to assist in providing records. Although, it has been quite some time, the SPD is committed to fulfilling public records request. With that being said, I thank you for your patience, and ask of your consent to please grant this extension in the GOVQA portal.

Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 CMR 32.00 and M.G.L.c. 66, §10(b).

Please contact the Public Records Coordinator, Marvenia Frazier-Shubrick, by responding to this email with any questions. Please reference public recordsrequest #R004143-081821 in all correspondence regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Marvenia Frazier-Shubrick
Public Records Coordinator

From: Springfield Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 18, 2021, Reference # R004143-081821
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 15 taser incidents in 2018, 27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2013, 18 baton incidents in 2014, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-2020 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
7. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
The Public Records Department, has been advised, by the Springfield, Massachusetts Police Department, that there are no records that are responsive to  your request for Item #7.

Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 CMR 32.00 and M.G.L.c. 66, §10(b).
Please contact the Public Records Department by responding to this email or by phone at (413) 787-6085 with any questions. Please reference public recordsrequest # R004143-081821 in all correspondence regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Marta Tirado
Public Records Analyst
Law Department/Public Records Division

From: Springfield Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 18, 2021, Reference # R004143-081821
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 15 taser incidents in 2018, 27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2013, 18 baton incidents in 2014, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-2020 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
7. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
We apologize for the lack of response on this request. There has been a change in leadership and staff recently. We are reviewing this request internally and will follow up with a response by the end of this week with a status update and when you can expect to receive additional documents.
Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and M.G.L. c. 66, §10(b). Please contact the Public Records Department by responding to this email or by phone at (413) 787-6085 with any questions. Please reference Public Records Request # R004143-081821 in all correspondence regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Public Records Department

From: Springfield Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 18, 2021, Reference # R004143-081821
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for “ To Whom It May Concern:”

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 15 taser incidents in 2018, 27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2013, 18 baton incidents in 2014, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-2020 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
7. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Personnel in the Internal Investigation Unit have submitted records as being responsive to parts 2,3, and 6 of your request. Please log in to the Public Records Center at the following link to retrieve the responsive documents: Public Records Request - R004143-081821.
In response to parts 4 and 5 of your request, personnel in the Internal Investigation Unit have stated the Springfield Police Department does not categorize civilian complaints in the manner in which you requested.
A response to part 7 of your request was previously provided. Please let us know if you would still like a response to part 1 of your request.
Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and M.G.L. ch. 66, §10(b).
Please contact the Public Records Department by responding to this email or by phone at (413) 787-6085 with any questions. Please reference Public Records Request #R004143-081821 in all correspondence regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Public Records Department

From: Springfield Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 18, 2021, Reference # R004143-081821
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 15 taser incidents in 2018, 27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2013, 18 baton incidents in 2014, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-2020 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
7. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Thus far we have responded to parts 2-7 of this request. We have also requested you let us know if you would still like a response to part 1. However, we have not received a response. Please let us know if you would like a response to part 1 by December 16, 2022. If we do not receive a response by that date, we will close this request.
Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and M.G.L. c. 66, §10(b). Please contact the Public Records Department by responding to this email or by phone at (413) 787-6085 with any questions. Please reference Public Records Request # R004143-081821 in all correspondence regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Public Records Department

From: Samuel Sinyangwe

Hi, yes I still would like a response to item 1 of my request. Thank you!

-Sam

From: Springfield Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 18, 2021, Reference # R004143-081821 Dear Samuel Sinyangwe, This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for “To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 15 taser incidents in 2018, 27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2013, 18 baton incidents in 2014, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-2020 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
7. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ The City of Springfield is requiring a ten (10) day extension to continue the efforts of fulfilling your public record request. Specifically, the City has responded to parts 2-7 of the request and needs additional time to respond to part 1 of the request. Please consent to this extension in the GovQA portal. Public Records Request - R004143-081821. Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and M.G.L. c. 66, §10(b). Please contact the Public Records Department by responding to this email or by phone at (413) 787-6085 with any questions. Please reference Public Records Request #R004143-081821 in all correspondence regarding this request. Sincerely, Public Records Department

From: Springfield Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 18, 2021, Reference # R004143-081821
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for “ To Whom It May Concern:”

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 15 taser incidents in 2018, 27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2013, 18 baton incidents in 2014, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-2020 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
7. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Personnel in the Police Department have submitted records in response to your request.Please log in to the Public Records Center at the following link to retrieve the responsive documents: Public Records Request - R004143-081821. The records are contained in an excel spreadsheet and are responsive to Part 1 of your request. You were previously provided a response to Parts 2-7 of the request. With the submission of these records, we will be closing this matter.
Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and M.G.L. ch. 66, §10(b).
Please contact the Public Records Division by responding to this email or by phone at (413) 787-6085 with any questions. Please reference Public Records Request #R004143-081821 in all correspondence regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Public Records Division

From: Springfield Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of August 18, 2021, Reference # R004143-081821
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for “ To Whom It May Concern:”

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by the police department, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 15 taser incidents in 2018, 27 taser incidents in 2019, 3 baton incidents in 2013, 18 baton incidents in 2014, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-2020 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
7. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Personnel in the Police Department have submitted records in response to your request.Please log in to the Public Records Center at the following link to retrieve the responsive documents: Public Records Request - R004143-081821. The records are contained in an excel spreadsheet and are responsive to Part 1 of your request. You were previously provided a response to Parts 2-7 of the request. With the submission of these records, we will be closing this matter.
Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and M.G.L. ch. 66, §10(b).
Please contact the Public Records Division by responding to this email or by phone at (413) 787-6085 with any questions. Please reference Public Records Request #R004143-081821 in all correspondence regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Public Records Division

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