Massachusetts Police Data Collection (Lynn Police Department)

Samuel Sinyangwe filed this request with the Lynn Police Department of Lynn, MA.
Submitted Aug. 18, 2021
Status
Completed

Communications

From: Samuel Sinyangwe

Subject: Massachusetts Public Records Law Request: Massachusetts Police Data Collection (Lynn Police Department)

Email

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents reported by law enforcement, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 27 taser incidents in 2019, 16 taser incidents in 2020, 3 baton incidents in 2019, 4 baton incidents in 2020, etc.)
2. the total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, 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 2013-2020, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
6. all information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.
7. a list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-20 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).

If only partial information is available responsive to one or more of these requests, please provide all of the information that is available.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. 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.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

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: Lynn Police Department

Subject: None

Web

I apologize for the delay but we are still in the process of gathering information and need a little more time. I hope to get everything to you by the end of the week.
Sincerely,
James Flynn
Captain of Administration
Lynn Police Department
300 Washington St
Lynn Ma 01902
781-477-4307

From: Lynn Police Department

Subject: RE: Massachusetts Public Records Law Request: Massachusetts Police Data Collection (Lynn Police Department)

Email

Dear Mr. Sinyangwe, attached please see the Lynn Police Department’s response to your Public Records Request. I apologize for the tardiness.

On Aug. 18, 2021:
Subject: Massachusetts Public Records Law Request: Massachusetts Police Data Collection (Lynn Police Department)
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

1. The total number of use of force incidents reported by law enforcement, separated by year and by type of force used from 2013-2020 (for example: 27 Taser incidents in 2019, 16 Taser incidents in 2020, 3 baton incidents in 2019, 4 baton incidents in 2020, etc.)
Please see the attached spreadsheets that chronicles the department’s use of force incidents from 2015 to present. The spreadsheets themselves also list the type of force used. We started in depth tracking of these incidents in 2015.

1. The total number of civilian complaints alleging any form of law enforcement misconduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year (for example: 8 complaints in 2016, 2 complaints sustained in 2016, 4 complaints in 2017, 1 complaint sustained in 2017, etc.)
All civilian complaints are memorialized in the commanding officer’s daily reports. Minor complaints are sometimes handled at that level. More serious complaints are forwarded to our Internal Affairs Department. Please see the attached spreadsheet that lists all of the complaints that were investigated by Internal Affairs in the requested time frame. This sheet also lists the outcomes of the investigations.

1. The total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
All civilian complaints are documented in the CO’s daily report. We do not keep a running total of all complaints. All of the civilian complaints that reached to level of an Internal Affairs Investigation (including excessive force) are listed in the attached spreadsheet.

1. The total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
All of the civilian complaints that reached to level of an Internal Affairs Investigation (including biased policing) are listed in the attached spreadsheet.

1. The total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2013-2020, separated by year.
All of the civilian complaints that reached to level of an Internal Affairs Investigation (including criminal conduct) are listed in the attached spreadsheet.

1. All information reported to the FBI’s National Use-of-Force Data Collection program to date.
This information is included in the attached spreadsheets

1. A list of all officer involved shootings that were directed at a person from 2013-20 (excluding shootings of animals and accidental discharges that are not directed at a person).
We have had a total of five Officer Involved Shootings from 2013 to present.
1a. 9/5/2013- 46 Newcastle St
2b. 7/13/2015- 54 Jefferson St
3c. 1/29/2016- 106 Bayview Ave
4d. 11/29/2016- 525 Lynnway
5e. 11/02/2020- 34 Witt St

Sincerely,
Administrative Captain James Flynn
300 Washington St
Lynn Ma 01902
781-4774307

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Administrative Captain James Flynn
300 Washington St
Lynn Ma 01902
781-4774307

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