Memorandum of Understanding with federal drug enforcement
| Submitted | May 26, 2022 |
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Communications
From: T. McElwee
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Vermont Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
A copy of the most recent Memorandum (or Memoranda) of Understanding between Vermont State Police and the following applicable federal agencies/programs as well as their subordinate components:
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA);
• Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF);
• High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
To clarify, "Memorandum of Understanding" is a general term for a document that governs the interaction of State Police with the indicated federal entities. It may be called "Memorandum of Agreement," or something else entirely, but the request is for the the general class of document.
This request is in the public interest, as it will illuminate how state law enforcement interacts with the federal government.
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 3 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
T. McElwee
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Vermont Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 26, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Vermont Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on May 26, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Vermont State Police
June 22, 2022
T. McElwee
MuckRock News
Via email: requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>
Dear T. McElwee,
I am writing regarding your public records request, received June 8, 2022 and addressed to the Vermont State Police, requesting a copy of the most recent memorandum of understanding between the Vermont State Police and the DEA, OCDETF, and/or HIDTA.
In response to your request, the attached record has been identified for release under Vermont's Public Records Act. There are no further records responsive to your request in the custody or control of the Vermont Department of Public Safety.
Please note that the record supplied here is redacted in accordance with the Vermont Public Records Act exemptions found at 1 V.S.A. § 317(c)(5)(A)(v), relating to law enforcement records "dealing with the detection and investigation of crime;" and 1 V.S.A. § 317(c)(25), relating to "security procedures . . . . the disclosure of which would threaten the safety or persons or the security of public property."
Specifically, the Department of Public Safety ("DPS") redacted the record to remove information exempt from public inspection and copying under the following exemptions:
1 V.S.A. § 317(c)(5)(A)(v), relating to law enforcement records "dealing with the detection and investigation of crime" that "would disclose techniques and procedures for law enforcement investigations or prosecutions, or would disclose guidelines for law enforcement investigations or prosecution if such disclosure could reasonably be expected to risk circumvention of the law."
1 V.S.A. § 317(c)(25) ("passwords, access codes, user identifications, security procedures, and similar information, the disclosure of which would threaten the safety or persons or the security of public property").
If you believe that a portion of the attached record has been withheld in error, or if you would like to discuss the redactions in the released record, please feel free to contact me at this email address. Please be advised that you may also file an appeal. If you choose to file an appeal we request that you do so in writing to:
Acting Commissioner Jennifer Morrison
Department of Public Safety
45 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671
DPS now considers your request fulfilled. Thank you for your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Traci Leibowitz
Public Records Request Specialist
Vermont Department of Public Safety
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