Use of Force and Civilian Complaints Request

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records 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
5. copies of all reports, lists, or databases detailing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the city's police department since 2011. This should include requests for, or documentation of, funds used to cover settlement agreements, court costs, or other expenses related to lawsuits.

This request should be construed to include any document submitted to, compiled by, or in any way maintained by the city council that lists lawsuits brought against the police department between 2011-2019. If a document exists that contains the requested information for some, but not all of the above mentioned years, please include that/those document(s).

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.

Sincerely,

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 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Zellie Imani

Here's the amended version of #1

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:

1. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by year from 2010-2019
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
5. copies of all reports, lists, or databases detailing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the city's police department since 2011. This should include requests for, or documentation of, funds used to cover settlement agreements, court costs, or other expenses related to lawsuits.

This request should be construed to include any document submitted to, compiled by, or in any way maintained by the city council that lists lawsuits brought against the police department between 2011-2019. If a document exists that contains the requested information for some, but not all of the above mentioned years, please include that/those document(s).

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.

Sincerely,

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 7 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Zellie Imani

Thank you for the quick follow up. I cannot find #5 in the files.

5. copies of all reports, lists, or databases detailing the number and/or status of lawsuits brought against the city's police department since 2011. This should include requests for, or documentation of, funds used to cover settlement agreements, court costs, or other expenses related to lawsuits.

Thank you again.