GPS tracking tag launcher acquisition and use (Tacoma Police Department)

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07/21/2021
Phil Mocek
MuckRock News DEPT MR 115826 411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA  02144-2516
RE: PDR # T008208-071321
Dear Phil Mocek,
The City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities has received your public records request dated 7/13/2021, in which you requested the following information:
“To Whom It May Concern:

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

1. Records regarding your agency's acquisition of StarChase or other "GPS canon" devices (vehicle-mounted or hand-held GPS tracking tag launchers), including but not limited to invoices, purchase orders, contracts, loan agreements, evaluation agreements, solicitation letters, correspondence with companies and public agencies that provide the devices, and similar documents.

2. All nondisclosure agreements with StarChase, any other corporation, or any state or federal agencies, regarding your agency's actual or potential possession or use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software such as AppTrac-365

3. Records regarding policies and guidelines governing use of GPS tracking tag launchers, including but not limited to 1) when, where, how, and against whom they devices may be used, 2) under what circumstances administrative warrant, judicial warrant, or other legal process must, should, or should not be obtained prior to, during, or following direct or indirect use of the devices, 4) under what circumstances the existence or use of the devices must, should, or should not be revealed to judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, criminal defendants, or the general public., and 5) parallel construction techniques for use in avoidance of disclosure of the initial method of discovery of information gained initially by use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software

4. Training materials for use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software, including but not limited to memos, guidelines, or slideshows mentioning the technology

5. Records regarding any communications or agreements with wireless service providers (i.e., mobile phone carriers) concerning use of GPS tracking tag launchers

6. Procedures for the keeping of statistics about your agency's use of GPS tracking tag launchers

7. Records reflecting the number of investigations in which GPS tracking tag launchers were used, the number of those investigations that resulted in prosecutions, and the number of those investigations that resulted in convictions

8. Records reflecting a list of all criminal cases, with docket numbers if available, in which law enforcement officers or other staff used or arranged for the use of one or more GPS tracking tag launchers as part of the underlying investigations

9. All applications submitted to state or federal courts for warrants, orders, or other other authorization for use of GPS tracking tag launchers, as well as any warrants, orders, authorizations, denials of warrants, denials of orders, denials of authorization, and returns of warrants associated with those applications

10. Records regarding the use of GPS tracking tag launchers in closed investigations

11. Date and docket number of any responsive records that are sealed

12. All associated metadata

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,

Phil Mocek

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/ In order to implementappropriate measures to protect our customers and staff, you may experience adelay in service. This is due to city employees working remotely from home and not havingthe ability to perform their duties due to access to physical files,co-workers, or their work site. We will continue to process your request andproduce responsive records as quickly as we can, however, we ask for your understandingthat estimated delivery dates may be longer than usual. With that said, we areattempting to locate and assemble the materials requested and to determinewhether any of the documents are exempt from disclosure and we anticipate thatwe should have responsive documents on or before August 26, 2021. If there arequestions, or delays we will contact you accordingly.
In the meantime, if you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Regards,
Lisa Anderson
Public Disclosure Analyst
Public Records Office
(253) 779-7002

--- Please respond above this line ---

08/26/2021
Phil Mocek
MuckRock News DEPT MR 115826 411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA  02144-2516
RE: PDR # T008208-071321
Dear Phil Mocek,
The City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities has received your public records request dated 7/13/2021, in which you requested the following information:
“To Whom It May Concern:

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

1. Records regarding your agency's acquisition of StarChase or other "GPS canon" devices (vehicle-mounted or hand-held GPS tracking tag launchers), including but not limited to invoices, purchase orders, contracts, loan agreements, evaluation agreements, solicitation letters, correspondence with companies and public agencies that provide the devices, and similar documents.

2. All nondisclosure agreements with StarChase, any other corporation, or any state or federal agencies, regarding your agency's actual or potential possession or use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software such as AppTrac-365

3. Records regarding policies and guidelines governing use of GPS tracking tag launchers, including but not limited to 1) when, where, how, and against whom they devices may be used, 2) under what circumstances administrative warrant, judicial warrant, or other legal process must, should, or should not be obtained prior to, during, or following direct or indirect use of the devices, 4) under what circumstances the existence or use of the devices must, should, or should not be revealed to judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, criminal defendants, or the general public., and 5) parallel construction techniques for use in avoidance of disclosure of the initial method of discovery of information gained initially by use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software

4. Training materials for use of GPS tracking tag launchers or associated software, including but not limited to memos, guidelines, or slideshows mentioning the technology

5. Records regarding any communications or agreements with wireless service providers (i.e., mobile phone carriers) concerning use of GPS tracking tag launchers

6. Procedures for the keeping of statistics about your agency's use of GPS tracking tag launchers

7. Records reflecting the number of investigations in which GPS tracking tag launchers were used, the number of those investigations that resulted in prosecutions, and the number of those investigations that resulted in convictions

8. Records reflecting a list of all criminal cases, with docket numbers if available, in which law enforcement officers or other staff used or arranged for the use of one or more GPS tracking tag launchers as part of the underlying investigations

9. All applications submitted to state or federal courts for warrants, orders, or other other authorization for use of GPS tracking tag launchers, as well as any warrants, orders, authorizations, denials of warrants, denials of orders, denials of authorization, and returns of warrants associated with those applications

10. Records regarding the use of GPS tracking tag launchers in closed investigations

11. Date and docket number of any responsive records that are sealed

12. All associated metadata

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,

Phil Mocek

Upload documents directly: https://https://www.muckrock.comhttps://www.muckrock.com/
The City has made a diligent and good-faith effort to locaterecords that are responsive to the above request. No records have been located. This request is now closed.   Please contact me immediately if you believe that different or additional records should have been provided in response to your request.
Regards,
Lisa Anderson
Public Disclosure Analyst
Public Records Office
(253) 779-7002