Request for records related to IMSI Catchers

Jeffrey Landale filed this request with the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, DC.
Submitted April 13, 2017
Est. Completion None
Status
Withdrawn

Communications

From: Jeffrey Landale

Subject: DC Freedom of Information Act Request: Request for records related to IMSI Catchers

Email

To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act of 1974, D.C. Code Ann. § 2-531 et seq. ("D.C. Act"), I hereby request the following records:
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA, DC Code §§ 2-531-539, I hereby request the following records:
Any records which include any of the following the terms:
-Stingray
-cell site simulator
-IMSI Catcher
-DRTbox
-Harris Corporation
-Amberjack
-Gossamer
-Triggerfish
-KingFish
-Digital Receiver Technology
As a member of the news media requesting these documents for the purposes of a story I am writing in the public interest which will be publicly available, I request that a fee waiver for my request be granted. It is important for the DC public to understand the technologies used by law enforcement agencies. My work has also been published by national outlets. My work for the Christian Science Monitor can be viewed at the following link: https://www.csmonitor.com/About/People/Jeff-Landale
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 15 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Landale

From: Kaufman, Donald (MPD)

Subject: RE: DC Freedom of Information Act Request: Request for records related to IMSI Catchers

Email

Mr. Landale:

We have received your FOIA request below. However, in order to process the request, which is overly broad, we need some clarification to allow us to make a targeted search. A request for any records, on its face, would seek a search of each and every unit in the Department, which is overly broad.

As you may be aware, FOIA requires that requests describe the records sought with sufficient detail to allow an agency employee familiar with the subject area of the request to locate the records with a reasonable amount of effort. More specifically, 1 DCMR § 402.4 states that:

A request shall reasonably describe the desired record(s). Where possible, specific information regarding names, places, events, subjects, dates, files, titles, file designation, or other identifying information shall be supplied.

First, your request did not specify the date range for which you desire records. Second, what types of records are you seeking? For instance, you may be seeking records regarding procurement (these would mostly be emails as contract records are maintained by the Office of Contracting and Procurement, another District agency) or records regarding policies and procedures regarding cell site simulators.

If you wish to discuss by telephone, my direct dial is 202-727-5516.

Thanking you in advance for consideration of the foregoing.

Donald Kaufman
MPD FOIA Officer

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