Police data collection project (Grand Prairie Police Department)
| Multi Request | Police data collection project |
| Submitted | July 5, 2020 |
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Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year and by type of force used from 2016-2019 (for example, "27 taser incidents in 2016, 3 baton incidents in 2017, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained, separated by year (for example, 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2017, 4 complaints in 2018, 1 complaint sustained in 2019, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2019, separated by year
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2019, separated by year
Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints alleging police misconduct, 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 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Grand Prairie Police Department
On July 17, 2020, we received your request dated July 6, 2020 seeking certain complaint and use of force information. Your request has been referred to me for response.
I understand you to be seeking the following:
1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by and type of force from 2016-2019
2. the total number of civilian complaints from 2016-2019 alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number of sustained, separated by year
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2019, separated by year
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2016-2019, separated by year.
If I have misunderstood your request, please let me know.
The information for item 1 will be provided on next week when the person who maintains that information returns to the office.
With regard to items 2 and 3, we do not maintain the information you have requested in a releasable format. The Grand Prairie Police Department Annual Report contains information concerning the total number of administrative complaints. This number would include both citizen complaints and internal complaints. You can view the annual reports which contain the total number of complaints here<https://www.grandprairiepolice.org/about-us/annual-reports>. To separate the information, we would need to extract information from departmental files which are confidential under state law. In OR2020-13019, the Texas Attorney General's Office ruled such information cannot be released pursuant to Texas Government Code 143.089(g), and we are relying upon that previous determination.
With regard to item 4, the information is below:
Racial Profiling
2016
2017
2018
2019
Formal Racial Profiling Complaints
2
0
0
0
Sustained
0
0
0
0
Not Sustained
1
0
0
0
Unfounded
1
0
0
0
Should you have any questions concerning this request, please don't hesitate to contact me.
Tiffany Bull
Assistant City Attorney
City of Grand Prairie
317 College Street
Grand Prairie, Texas 75050
972-237-8026
972-237-8030 (f)
From: Grand Prairie Police Department
As a follow up to the email below, please find the information for item 1.
Force Used
2016
2017
2018
2019
Control Tactics
34
38
60
73
Weaponless Strikes
8
12
15
19
CEW Discharge
56
55
69
59
OC Spray
1
2
1
0
Impact Weapon
1
0
1
2
VNR
1
0
0
3
Firearms Discharge
2
2
17
1
K9 Bites
2
7
5
6
Other
9
3
14
0
Tiffany Bull
Assistant City Attorney
City of Grand Prairie
300 W Main Street
Grand Prairie, Texas 75050
972-237-8026
972-237-8030 (f)