Use of force data (2017-2024) (Denton County Sheriff)
It is a clone of this request.
| Tracking # |
S004172-012725 |
| Multi Request | Use of force data (2017-2024) |
| Submitted | Jan. 16, 2025 |
MuckRock users can file, duplicate, track, and share public records requests like this one. Learn more.
Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Use of force (UOF) data dating from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024. This data should be in database or spreadsheet format and include the case number, incident date, incident time, subject injured indicator, subject injury force related info (e.g. Yes or No), subject age, subject gender, subject ethnicity, subject weapon type, incident area occurred, force type, officer badge number and names associated with the officers involved. If one or more of these fields is unavailable, provide all fields and/or information that is available responsive to my request.
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 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Denton County Sheriff
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
Thank you for your interest in open records of the Denton County Sheriff’s Office. Your request was received in this office on January 27, 2025 and given the reference number S004172-012725 for tracking purposes.
Records Requested: “To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Use of force (UOF) data dating from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024. This data should be in database or spreadsheet format and include the case number, incident date, incident time, subject injured indicator, subject injury force related info (e.g. Yes or No), subject age, subject gender, subject ethnicity, subject weapon type, incident area occurred, force type, officer badge number and names associated with the officers involved. If one or more of these fields is unavailable, provide all fields and/or information that is available responsive to my request.
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 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request will be forwarded to the relevant department(s) to locate the information you seek and to determine the volume and any costs associated with satisfying your request. You will be contacted about the availability and/or provided with copies of the records in question.
DCSO Records receives thousands of Public Information Requests each year. Your request is important to us and will be handled in the order received. The Records Division appreciates your patience and understanding while your request is being processed as some deadlines may be extended due to applicable skeleton crew days. You may follow the progress of your request at the link below, and you’ll receive an email when your request has been completed.
Again, thank you for using the Denton County Sheriff’s Office Open Records Center.
From: Denton County Sheriff
--- Please respond above this line ---
February 11, 2025
Samuel Sinyangwe
requests@muckrock.com (mailto:requests@muckrock.com)
Dear Mr. Sinyangwe,
Subject: Public Information Request S004172-012725
The Public Information Act is triggered when a person submits a written request to a governmental body. This was done when the above mentioned request was submitted to the Denton County Sheriff’s Office on 1/27/2025 at 11:37 PM through the GovQA portal. It is implicit in several provisions of the Public Information Act that it applies only to information already in existence. Therefore, the Denton County Sheriff’s Office is releasing to you, a redacted pdf report and a BlueTeam Use of Force incident report. Please note, th the Act does not require a governmental body to prepare new information in response to a request. Moreover, the Act does not require a governmental body to prepare answers to questions or to do legal research. As such, i e redactions in the pdf report were made in pursuant to Attorney General Opinions OR2021-02841, OR2022-19507, and OR2022-14404A. Additionally, the governmental body shall provide the information in another medium that is acceptable to the requestor. DCSO did not have/maintain a data base of use of force reports during the majority of the time delineated in your request. Reports were scanned into the individual inmate and employee files and will therefore require an extensive search of thousands of files to comply with your request. f a governmental body is unable to provide the information in the requested medium for any of the reasons described by section 552.228(b), However, if the request requires “programming or manipulation of date,” and “compliance with the request is not feasible or will result in substantial interference with its ongoing operations,” or “the information could be made available in the requested form only at a cost that covers the programming and manipulation of data,” a governmental body is required to provide the requestor with a written statement. The estimated cost to provide the additional requested information is $95,395 as calculated in accordance with the rules established by the Attorney General pursuant to Section 552.262 of the Texas Public Information Act. This cost covers the labor to locate, compile and redact (if need be) the requested information. A deposit of $47,697.50 (half of the estimated cost), will be required due to the estimated costs exceeding $100. An invoice for the estimated cost has been created/provided to you through the GovQA portal. The deposit can be made in the form of cash, cashier’s check, or money order, and brought/mailed to the Denton County Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Records Department, at 127 North Woodrow Lane, Denton, Texas 76205.
We anticipate that it will take approximately 10 business days from the date of payment to provide the requested information. Full payment is required before information can be released to you. If you agree to accept the charges and proceed with this request, please respond to this email within 10 business days, at which time we will provide further instructions. If you accept the information that is being released to you as fulfilling your request, please respond to this email within 10 business days so that we may close out your request. If we do not receive a response from you within 10 days, your request will be closed as complete. Stacy Graham Records Manager
Denton County Sheriff’s Office
From: Denton County Sheriff
RE: Public Information Act Request of January 27, 2025 Reference # S004172-012725
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
The Denton County Sheriff's Office Records Division has received your public information request dated 1/27/2025 for the following: "To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Use of force (UOF) data dating from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024. This data should be in database or spreadsheet format and include the case number, incident date, incident time, subject injured indicator, subject injury force related info (e.g. Yes or No), subject age, subject gender, subject ethnicity, subject weapon type, incident area occurred, force type, officer badge number and names associated with the officers involved. If one or more of these fields is unavailable, provide all fields and/or information that is available responsive to my request.
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 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
We have determined that complying with your request will result in the imposition of a charge that exceeds $40.00; therefore, we are providing you with this cost estimate as required by Texas Government Code 552.2615. In order to comply with your request as written the estimated costs are attached.
IF the estimated charges exceed $100.00, Section 552.263(a) allows the Organization to require a deposit of 50% (HALF OF THE ESTIMATE) before starting work on any portion of your request. After the deposit is paid and the work is completed, an updated statement will be prepared showing actual final costs to satisfy your request. If the actual costs are more than $10 higher than your deposit, then you will be required to pay the full balance of costs owed before you receive the copies. (Balance owed of less than $10 will be waived.) If the actual costs are less than your deposit, then the unused amount will be refunded to you.
There is a less expensive way for you to obtain this information. You may narrow the scope of your request, or view the information in person at our offices. If you choose to view the information in person, please provide me with three dates and times when it will be convenient for you to come.
Please respond in writing using one of the following methods so that there is a record of your response:
1) Please reply to this email;
2) via regular mail to Denton County Sheriff's Office Records Division (address below);
or
3) in person at the Denton County Sheriff's Office Records Division 127 N. Woodrow Ln. Denton, Texas 76205.
Your request will be considered automatically withdrawn if you do not notify us in writing within ten business days from the date of this letter that you:
(a) accept the charges;
(b) wish to modify your request; OR
(c) have sent to the Open Records Division of the Office of the Attorney General a complaint alleging that you are being overcharged for the information you have requested. Deposit Requirements: Per our policy, a paid deposit of fifty percent (50%) is required prior to the production of records on estimates exceeding $100.00. Once we receive your agreement to pay, you will be sent an invoice with instruction on how to pay the Deposit Due. No work will begin until we receive agreement to pay and your deposit, if required.
Thank you for your patience in awaiting this information.
Sincerely,
Stacy Graham
From: Denton County Sheriff
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
In regards to the SHERIFF OPEN RECORD REQUEST received on 1/27/2025 and given the Reference Number S004172-012725, the records have been in " Waiting for Acceptance of Charges" status for seven (7) business days. The Denton County Sheriff's Office will consider this request withdrawn and closed if you do not respond within the next three (3) business days.
Request Details Request Reference Number: S004172-012725 Description of Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Use of force (UOF) data dating from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024. This data should be in database or spreadsheet format and include the case number, incident date, incident time, subject injured indicator, subject injury force related info (e.g. Yes or No), subject age, subject gender, subject ethnicity, subject weapon type, incident area occurred, force type, officer badge number and names associated with the officers involved. If one or more of these fields is unavailable, provide all fields and/or information that is available responsive to my request.
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 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
This is an auto-generated email and has originated from an unmonitored email account. Please DO NOT REPLY
From: Denton County Sheriff
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
In regards to the SHERIFF OPEN RECORD REQUEST received on 1/27/2025 and given the Reference Number S004172-012725, the records have been in " Waiting for Acceptance of Charges" status for ten (10) business days. The Denton County Sheriff's Office considers this request closed. If you would still like the records, please submit another SHERIFF OPEN RECORD REQUEST. Thank you for using the Public Records Center.
Request Details Request Reference Number: S004172-012725 Description of Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
Use of force (UOF) data dating from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2024. This data should be in database or spreadsheet format and include the case number, incident date, incident time, subject injured indicator, subject injury force related info (e.g. Yes or No), subject age, subject gender, subject ethnicity, subject weapon type, incident area occurred, force type, officer badge number and names associated with the officers involved. If one or more of these fields is unavailable, provide all fields and/or information that is available responsive to my request.
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 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/