Police Data Collection Request (2022)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
Thank you for your interest in public records of the City of Lakeland. Your request has been received and is being processed.
Your request was received in this office on 11/26/2023 and given the reference number W018657-112623 for tracking purposes.
Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Florida Sunshine Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents in 2022.
2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force, in 2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2022, baton incidents in 2022, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints against law enforcement that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.
6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.
7. the total number of officer-involved shootings in 2022, both fatal and non-fatal.
8. the total number of people who police used force against, broken down by race/ethnicity, in 2022.

When available, I would appreciate being sent individualized data in this request in spreadsheet format. If individualized data are unavailable, please send information that includes aggregate statistics for the item instead.

Note that my requests for civilian complaints are specifically for civilian complaints, 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.

Sincerely,

Samuel Sinyangwe

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Your request will be forwarded to the relevant City 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.

You can monitor 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 Lakeland Public Records Center.
City of Lakeland

--- Please respond above this line ---

Good afternoon,
I sincerely apologize. The labor cost will be waived.
Please see below.
1. the total number of use of force incidents in 2022.

2020: 581 (Total includes: K-9 non-contact deployments, handcuff and release, and empty hand control techniques.)

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used in 2022

2022 Protective Action(s) (Total based on response option used per officer not per incident.)

a. Empty Hand Control: 293
b. Pointing of CEW: 50
c. CEW: 137
d. Aerosol Deterrent: 36
e. Weapon of Opportunity: 18
f. K-9 Bites: 11
g. Pointing of Firearm: 146
h. Firearm Used: 1

OTHER Response Actions:
a. Handcuff and Release: 121
b. K-9 Deployment (Presence, Not Release, Recalled – NON-CONTACT): 106

3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

a. Total Citizen Complaints (Any Misconduct): 22
b. Total Sustained Allegations: 4

4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

a. Total Citizen Complaints (Excessive Force): 3
b. Total Sustained: 0

5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

a. Total Citizen Complaints (Bias-Based Policing/Racial Profiling): 0

6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained for 2022.

a. Total Citizen Complaints (Criminal): 0

7. the total number of officer-involved shootings in 2022, both fatal and non-fatal.

a. Total Officer-Involved Shootings: 1

8. the total number of people who police used force against, broken down by race/ethnicity, in 2022.  (Total includes: K-9 non-contact deployments, handcuff and release, and empty hand control techniques.)

White Male: 161
Black Male: 302
Other Male: 82
White Female: 40
Black Female: 50
Other Female: 8
Unknown:  2