1033 MOU and annual inventory form (Wyoming - DAI)

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Wyoming Open Meetings Act and the Wyoming Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

-The current memorandum of agreement (MOA) or memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Defense Logistics Agency, Disposition Services regarding the 1033 equipment surplus program administered by the DLA Law Enforcement Support Office

-The annual inventory form required to be completed by the state coordinator of the 1033 program

According to the DLA FAQ page regarding the 1033 program, the Department of Administration and Information, Surplus Properties is in charge of coordinating the 1033 program for Wyoming. See http://www.dispositionservices.dla.mil/leso/Pages/StateCoordinatorList.aspx

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. 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.

In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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 would request your response within ten (10) business days.

Sincerely,

Shawn Musgrave

Please confirm whether the records request below was received as emailed on Tuesday.

For reference, the Ohio state coordinator released the attached spreadsheet inventory of equipment received via the 1033 program.

Please let me know if I can clarify this request further.

Best,
Shawn

Thank you! Please let me know if I can provide any clarification.

Best,
Shawn

Ms. Wyant -

Checking in to see whether I can provide any further clarification on this request, or if I ought to follow up with the Attorney General directly.

Thank you again for your help.

Best,
Shawn

Ms. Wyant -

Thank you for sending the MOA. Regarding the annual inventory, more than 20 state coordinators have released nearly identical spreadsheets. Many of them are title the "State Property Book" or something similar. I have attached three such spreadsheets.

It is my understanding that state coordinators are the custodians of such a spreadsheet per their obligation to review the inventory for equipment received by law enforcement from the 1033 program within their respective states. I would respectfully request that you confirm that your office is not in possession of a corresponding spreadsheet for Wyoming.

Best,

Shawn Musgrave
MuckRock

Ms. Wyant -

Thank you for sending this spreadsheet. Based on similar spreadsheets sent to me by 26 other state coordinators, I am under the impression that most coordinators maintain (or at least have downloaded) a version of this spreadsheet that includes agency-by-agency information for all equipment transfers, without the split into "General" and "Tactical." Does your office have such a spreadsheet? If so, this request covers that document.

Please let me know if I can provide any further clarification.

Best,
Shawn

Ms. Wyant --

I've taken another look at the spreadsheet you sent, and realized that the "General" and "Tactical" tabs are identical, and do not match the spreadsheet released by LESO.

Please advise whether an agency-by-agency spreadsheet is available for all transfers of equipment, both tactical and general. Just today Kentucky became the 32nd state to release this data (attached).

Best,
Shawn

Ms. Wyant -

Checking on this again.

Thank you for your help.

Best,
Shawn

Ms. Wyant -

Yesterday, a panel commissioned by President Obama released its findings regarding the need for increased scrutiny of the 1033 program and similar federal programs that provide funding or direct equipment transfers to law enforcement nationwide.

The report is available online here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/01/fact-sheet-strengthening-community-policing

In part, the report found that: "Both law enforcement and civil rights stakeholders agreed that there is often insufficient transparency to decisions surrounding the acquisition of equipment. These programs often permit LEAs to request equipment outside of a local government’s standard budget process and without civilian (non-police) government approval. Local elected officials are frequently not involved in the decision-making, and the general public is similarly unaware of what their LEAs possess."

In the spirit of promoting public accountability regarding the equipment that law enforcement agencies have received via the 1033 program, I once again respectfully ask that you release an unredacted spreadsheet of such equipment transfers. To date, 38 states have released this information. I urge Wyoming to follow suit and help facilitate the productive dialogue around the 1033 program and its future that is only possible by evaluating the program's operation in detail.

Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Respectfully,

Shawn Musgrave
MuckRock

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 18, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 18, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.