Police Data Collection Request (2022)

Thank you for submitting your request for the following public records: 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 in 2022.

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force, in 2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2022, baton incidents in 2022, etc.)

3. the total number of civilian complaints against law enforcement that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

7. the total number of officer-involved shootings in 2022, both fatal and non-fatal.

8. the total number of people who police used force against, broken down by race/ethnicity, in 2022.

When available, I would appreciate being sent individualized data 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, 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/
Your request was received by the City of Vancouver, Washington, Police Records Division and has been assigned reference number P005964-081023 for tracking purposes.
You will be contacted within five (5) business days with an update as to when the responsive records will be available. 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 your interest in public records.
City of Vancouver, Washington
Police Records

--- Please respond above this line ---

08/17/2023
Samuel Sinyangwe
MuckRock News, DEPT MR150674 263 Huntington Ave
Boston MA 02115
requests@muckrock.com
RE: Public Disclosure Request P005964-081023
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
This letter is an acknowledgement of your records request received by the Vancouver Police Department on 8/10/2023. It is our understanding that you are requesting the following documents:
1. the total number of use of force incidents in 2022.

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force, in 2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2022, baton incidents in 2022, etc.)

3. the total number of civilian complaints against law enforcement that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

7. the total number of officer-involved shootings in 2022, both fatal and non-fatal.

8. the total number of people who police used force against, broken down by race/ethnicity, in 2022.

When available, I would appreciate being sent individualized data 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, 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.

If you feel that we have misinterpreted your request and you are seeking something different, please contact us so your request may be clarified.
Our department is in the process of collecting the requested information and will require until September 20, 2023, to compile, review potential exemptions and reproduce the requested records. You will be notified if additional time is required; otherwise, your requested records will be provided to you upon completion.
Sincerely,
Records Division

--- Please respond above this line ---

09/05/2023
Samuel Sinyangwe
MuckRock News, DEPT MR150674 263 Huntington Ave
Boston MA 02115
requests@muckrock.com
RE: Public Disclosure Request P005964-081023
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
Your request is for general information, not for an identifiable record or class of records. The state public records act provides for agencies to provide access in response to requests for "identifiable public records" pursuant to RCW 42.56.080. Put another way, record requests must provide a reasonable description of a record to enable an agency employee to locate the requested record. See Bonamy v. City of Seattle, 92 Wn. App. 403, 410, 960 P.2d 447 (1998), review denied, 137 Wn.2d 1012, 978 P.2d 1099 (1999) ("identifiable record" requirement is satisfied when there is a "reasonable description" of the record "enabling the government employee to locate the requested records.") and WAC 44-14-04002. Your request does not provide enough specificity to identify what records you want.
While your request is for information, in the assistance we've identified a report located at use_of_force_2022cy.pdf (cityofvancouver.us) (https://u8387795.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=nZGH0ylxadMp5hTpNkeAFgYtz0o2f6uBWpmvE06sEXyMluohQnOlMVOYGXRlNdeFOPMI1vTP77Tw-2FHLjwnIPgXNssHTmgvdSnupTI09Gxb9NPWbHWqwROQ5K3QAQbfNnZA8o9b6WzK9fiaE7YVJbVdxVUWJcfI6emP-2FFMinwzB0-3DeTUV_WDgQsZ0PU7pbjc8EbnxKgmGRz8DHSuguHp5BuY6GATC-2BDxMQwJNVkucisceoqlkny6SuK2CXS7Sz7lm00J3WJ-2FcldwlIbvT2nWbc1aI8VJmcZNtGwYrqHuD2JlWISyTnIq7Z0Va1WGe-2BpFtjiZbSrKjnsjAfpZgCJytxEc6X4Xu31B2HVV2ztLVl1yMVYmqWcWjrkjob5-2BUDHUuj4oBhcGLpQ0n-2BSyYoMbutHVYp4Q1cD6F7D1ccQNkgy0Y6fmP4ypuYMkRWM0VobP-2F6HW0Em7c4De8WJc7hpSoiBq32kcJRa9vsCFclJmB85DMgG5o-2Bi4Whlsq9Kq7qCbpzOSbw7B8WP94vwpqvC-2FFqQWPHqRQYwOA5CMyuk6dt-2FwocI3aBOW0JHprrvcJ711u8jP6Vlg-3D-3D)
that may have information you are seeking under sections 1, 2, and 8. We are unable to locate a "record" with the information requested under sections 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
If you feel that there are any missing documents or additional types of materials that your request sought, which are not included in the attached response, please contact me so your request may be clarified.  If you do not advise that we have misinterpreted your request in any way, then the Vancouver Police Department will conclude that it adequately determined the scope of what you seek.
This concludes the Vancouver Police Department’s response to the above-mentioned request. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Records Division