Huntsville, AL PD Citizen Complaints
| Submitted | Aug. 4, 2017 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to Alabama's Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
We are Economics Professors in the College of Business at Ferris State University, and are engaged in an empirical research project on police behavior and citizen complaints. This project requires us to request data from your department. If you have questions about this request or suggestions, we would be happy to discuss them with you.
1. What is the total number of citizen complaints (allegations of misconduct) made against your department’s officers annually for the last 10 years? If your department logs complaints in a database, spreadsheet, or other log, a copy of those logs is fine instead.
Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).
2. What is the total number of complaints police officers made against their peer officers in department annually for the last 10 years? If your department logs complaints in a database, spreadsheet, or other log, a copy of those logs is fine instead.
Please include the type of complaint (i.e., use of force, abuse language, unwarranted search) and the result of complaint (i.e., sustained, exonerated).
3. What is the total number of calls for service your department received annually for the past 10 years? If your department logs calls for service in a database, spreadsheet, or other log, a copy of those logs is fine instead.
4. What is the annual number of officers involved in shootings in your department for the past 10 years? Any documentation or reports that detail the annual number of officer-involved shootings in your department for the past 10 years would be sufficient.
Please include documentation regarding how many of these officer-involved shootings involved disciplinary action. (Please list officer firearm discharge directed at a person separately from a shooting involving an animal and separately from accidental firearm discharges).
Please include the number of officer-involved shootings resulting in discipline.
5. Which of the above data are published publicly? Please provide a link to any and all publicly available reports containing the data above.
Collecting this information is very important to our research, so we would like to emphasize, if you have questions about my request or suggestions, we would be happy to discuss them with you.
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 would request your response within ten (10) business days.
Sincerely,
Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
From: Bates, Stacy
I have forwarded your request to Jeff Grimes in the City of Huntsville Legal Department.
Lt. Stacy Bates
Public Information Officer
Huntsville, AL Police Department
(256) 746-4130
stacy.bates@huntsvilleal.gov<mailto:stacy.bates@huntsvilleal.gov>
Connect with us! * Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvillePoliceDepartment/> * Twitter<https://twitter.com/hsvpolice> *HPD E-newsletter<https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1825716/1780914/> *Website<https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/public-safety/huntsville-police/police-operations/>
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Thank you. Please keep me posted.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Bates, Stacy
Your request is forwarded to Jeff Grimes in the City of Huntsville Legal Dept. you can follow-up with him. jeff.grimes@huntsvilleal.gov<mailto:jeff.grimes@huntsvilleal.gov>
Lt. Stacy Bates
Public Information Officer
Huntsville, AL Police Department
(256) 746-4130
stacy.bates@huntsvilleal.gov<mailto:stacy.bates@huntsvilleal.gov>
Connect with us! * Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvillePoliceDepartment/> * Twitter<https://twitter.com/hsvpolice> *HPD E-newsletter<https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1825716/1780914/> *Website<https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/public-safety/huntsville-police/police-operations/>
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Hello,
Thank you for the update. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Respectfully,
Alex Cartwright
From: Bates, Stacy
Jeff Grimes will be the one responsible for responding. All request we receive are forwarded to the City's Legal Dept. to process and respond.
Lt. Stacy Bates
Public Information Officer
Huntsville Police Department
(256) 746-4130
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
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 Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
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 Public Records request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
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 Public Records request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
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 Public Records request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
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 Public Records request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
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 Public Records request, copied below, and originally submitted on Aug. 4, 2017. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Huntsville Police Department
I am forwarding you request to Eddie Blair with the City of Huntsville Legal Department. He is your primary contact for this request. Also note that I am no longer the Public Information Officer. Lt. M. Johnson has that role now and would be your police department contact for other type of requests. Both Mr. Blair and Lt. Johnson are cc’d on this email so you can have their email addresses.
LIEUTENANT STACY BATES
Internal Affairs Commander
Huntsville, AL Police Department
(256) 427-7012 office
(256)427-7133 fax
stacy.bates@huntsvilleal.gov<mailto:stacy.bates@huntsvilleal.gov>
Connect with us! * Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/HuntsvillePoliceDepartment/> * Twitter<https://twitter.com/hsvpolice> *HPD E-newsletter<https://app.e2ma.net/app2/audience/signup/1825716/1780914/> *Website<https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/residents/public-safety/huntsville-police/police-operations/>
From: Huntsville Police Department
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Thank you for the update. I understand this request is extensive, and I sincerely appreciate your time.
Best, -Alex
From: Huntsville Police Department
I no longer handle FOIA or Records request for the department. You need to forward this and any future requests to Eddie Blair, City of Huntsville Legal Department, eddie.blair@huntsvilleal.gov
Thanks,
Stacy Bates
From: Huntsville Police Department
I believe our response to this request went out at the end of last week. I’ll check with Jan to verify. Thanks. EB
EDWARD E. BLAIR
Assistant City Attorney
City of Huntsville
P.O. Box 308
Huntsville, AL 35804
(256) 427-5026
(256) 427-5043 (fax)
Email: eddie.blair@huntsvilleal.gov<mailto:eddie.blair@huntsvilleal.gov>
Confidentiality Notice and Disclaimer: This e-mail is from the Office of the City Attorney, and it may be protected by the attorney-client privilege or as attorney work-product, or contain otherwise confidential information. ACCORDINGLY, DO NOT FORWARD THE CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE, WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE SENDER. If you received the message by error, please notify the sender that you received it by replying to this e-mail, and then delete it from your computer. Unless specifically stated otherwise in the body of the message, the content of the message is not to be construed as establishing an attorney-client relationship if one does not otherwise exist, or as consent to conduct business by any electronic medium.
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Thank you very much for the update. We understand this request is extensive and sincerely appreciate your help. We look forward to your response.
From: Huntsville Police Department
Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer;
It appears we responded to this request on or about 1/10/18 with hard copies sent to your actual physical address.
EDWARD E. BLAIR
Assistant City Attorney
City of Huntsville
P.O. Box 308
Huntsville, AL 35804
(256) 427-5026
(256) 427-5043 (fax)
Email: eddie.blair@huntsvilleal.gov<mailto:eddie.blair@huntsvilleal.gov>
Confidentiality Notice and Disclaimer: This e-mail is from the Office of the City Attorney, and it may be protected by the attorney-client privilege or as attorney work-product, or contain otherwise confidential information. ACCORDINGLY, DO NOT FORWARD THE CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE, WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE SENDER. If you received the message by error, please notify the sender that you received it by replying to this e-mail, and then delete it from your computer. Unless specifically stated otherwise in the body of the message, the content of the message is not to be construed as establishing an attorney-client relationship if one does not otherwise exist, or as consent to conduct business by any electronic medium.
From: Huntsville Police Department
A copy of documents responsive to the request.
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Hi,
Thanks so much for your help with this request! I really appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
I am writing to follow up on my original request made on 8/4/17
Thank you very much for providing the information we requested. I am writing to ask for some clarification regarding the data on officer-involved shootings you provided us with. What constitutes an officer-involved shooting in your department? For example, some departments do not count misses while others count all discharges; some include shots at animals. Other departments include intentional and accidental shootings; others do not. Some include all discharges and some exclude missed shots. Please explain to us how your department classifies the OIS included in the numbers you sent to us.
Very Respectfully, Alex Cartwright
From: Huntsville Police Department
An OIS is when a bullet, leaving the weapon of an authorized police officer after his finger has pulled the trigger, enters the body of another individual, likely a criminal suspect. We do not keep any other statistics other than the ones you have been provided. Perhaps you should review the ALEA website or the FBI site for additional details. Thanks, and have a great day.
EDWARD E. BLAIR
Assistant City Attorney
City of Huntsville
P.O. Box 308
Huntsville, AL 35804
(256) 427-5026
(256) 427-5043 (fax)
Email: eddie.blair@huntsvilleal.gov<mailto:eddie.blair@huntsvilleal.gov>
Confidentiality Notice and Disclaimer: This e-mail is from the Office of the City Attorney, and it may be protected by the attorney-client privilege or as attorney work-product, or contain otherwise confidential information. ACCORDINGLY, DO NOT FORWARD THE CONTENTS OF THIS MESSAGE, WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE SENDER. If you received the message by error, please notify the sender that you received it by replying to this e-mail, and then delete it from your computer. Unless specifically stated otherwise in the body of the message, the content of the message is not to be construed as establishing an attorney-client relationship if one does not otherwise exist, or as consent to conduct business by any electronic medium.
From: Alexander Cartwright and Jennifer Dirmeyer
Mr. Blair,
Thus, am I to understand that OIS in your department does not include shootings at animals, misses, or accidental discharges?
Thank you, -Alex