Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office FOIA

To Whom It May Concern:

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

To: Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO)
Subject: Public Records Request Pursuant to Florida Sunshine Law

To Whom It May Concern,

Under the Florida Public Records Law (Fla. Stat. § 119.07), I request access to and copies of the following records related to law enforcement practices concerning tourists, non-residents, racial disparities, and potential misconduct within Okaloosa County, particularly in Destin. This request is made in the public interest as part of a journalistic investigation.

Requested Records:

1. Surveillance & Tracking of Tourists vs. Locals

a. All policies, memos, training materials, or internal guidance regarding:
• The use of surveillance technologies (ALPR, facial recognition, geofencing, drones, AI tools) to monitor tourists in Destin.
• How OCSO categorizes, flags, or tracks non-residents during stops, investigations, or special enforcement operations.
• Data retention and sharing agreements regarding license plate readers (ALPRs), social media monitoring, or AI-driven surveillance.

b. List of locations where OCSO operates:
• License plate readers (ALPRs) and traffic cameras in tourist-heavy areas (HarborWalk Village, Crystal Beach, Miramar Beach, etc.).
• Surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition or AI analysis.

2. Law Enforcement & Racial/Economic Bias in Tourist Policing

a. Complete breakdown of all traffic stops, citations, arrests, and field interviews over the past 5 years, categorized by:
• Resident vs. non-resident status
• Race, ethnicity, and gender of individuals stopped.
• State of vehicle registration (local vs. out-of-state plates).
• Location of stops/arrests (beaches, bars, hotels, highways, etc.).
• Types of offenses charged (DUI, public intoxication, drug possession, disorderly conduct, etc.).
• Disposition of cases (charges dropped, reduced fines, dismissed cases).

b. Internal audits or reports evaluating racial disparities in enforcement.

c. Records of any complaints, reports, or investigations submitted to DOJ, ACLU, or NAACP regarding racial profiling or discrimination in Okaloosa County.

3. Bribery, Corruption & Favoritism

a. Internal affairs complaints, whistleblower reports, and disciplinary actions related to:
• Bribery, extortion, or officers accepting cash, gifts, or favors from businesses or tourists.
• Selective enforcement based on economic status (e.g., officers treating wealthy tourists or property owners differently from lower-income visitors).
• Deputies receiving perks (free stays, meals, event access) from businesses in Destin.

b. Financial disclosure statements, asset declarations, and conflict-of-interest forms for:
• Sheriff, command staff, and officers frequently patrolling Destin’s tourist areas.
• Officers performing secondary employment for hotels, clubs, or private security firms.

c. Emails, text messages, and communications between OCSO personnel and:
• Local business owners, resort managers, and high-profile property owners.
• Any tourists, business owners, or public figures who had charges dismissed, fines reduced, or cases dropped.

4. Complaints, Lawsuits & Internal Investigations

a. All lawsuits filed against OCSO in the past 5 years related to:
• Bribery, corruption, or preferential treatment of wealthy tourists.
• Wrongful arrests, racial profiling, or misconduct against non-residents.
• Excessive force or abuse of authority.

b. All settlements, payouts, or non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) related to lawsuits involving:
• Selective enforcement based on race or income.
• Police misconduct, harassment, or racial discrimination.

c. Internal complaints or allegations made by whistleblowers within OCSO regarding corruption.

5. Business & Law Enforcement Collusion

a. Agreements, memos, or directives between OCSO and:
• Hotels, resorts, Airbnb/Vrbo operators, and rental agencies in Destin.
• High-end restaurants, bars, and nightclubs along the Destin Harbor and 30A.
• Luxury property management firms or real estate groups catering to wealthy visitors.

b. Records of businesses providing free services, VIP treatment, or perks to OCSO officers in exchange for favorable policing or security presence.

c. Any lists of banned individuals or “trespass lists” coordinated between OCSO and businesses to restrict certain tourists from properties.

6. Predictive Policing, AI Surveillance & Data Tracking

a. Predictive policing programs or intelligence databases used to track tourists.

b. Contracts with third-party firms (e.g., Palantir, LexisNexis, or other AI-driven surveillance platforms).

c. Internal memos or discussions on identifying “high-risk” tourists or non-residents based on demographics or behavioral patterns.

7. Financial & Grant Funding for Tourist-Focused Policing

a. All federal, state, or private funding related to law enforcement in high-tourism areas.

b. Grant applications requesting funds for surveillance, AI tracking, or specialized tourist policing.

8. Socioeconomic Bias in Tourist Policing

a. Records evaluating differences in enforcement between:
• High-end resorts vs. budget hotels.
• Wealthy vacation homeowners vs. lower-income tourists.
• Business owners vs. seasonal workers or spring breakers.

b. Emails, reports, or internal discussions on strategies for handling VIP tourists differently from lower-income visitors.

Format & Delivery

Please provide all responsive records in a digital format (PDF, CSV, or other machine-readable format). If records are only available in physical form, I request that they be scanned and sent electronically.

Fee Waiver Request

As this request is made in the public interest for journalistic purposes, I request a waiver of all fees. If fees are expected, please provide an itemized cost estimate before processing.

Response Deadline

Florida law requires that public records be provided promptly and without unreasonable delay. If any part of this request is denied, please provide:
• A written explanation citing the specific legal exemption justifying the withholding of records.
• A log of withheld documents, if applicable.

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,

Alabama Times