Sheriff Data Collection Request (2016-2022)

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
Thank you for your interest in public records of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. This is an automated reply confirming receipt of your request submitted on 3/24/2024. Your request has been provided with reference number P123287-032424 for tracking purposes. In accordance with Florida Public Records Law, Chapter 119 of the Florida State Statutes, we are in the process of researching your request and will notify you when it is available for release. 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, separated by year, from 2016-2022 (for example, 302 use of force incidents in 2016, 287 use of force incidents in 2017, etc.). Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in 2022 were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used from 2016-2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2016, baton incidents in 2016, etc.).

3. the total number of officer-involved shootings from 2016-2022, both fatal and non-fatal, separated by year.

4. the total number of people who the sheriff’s department used force against, broken down by race/ethnicity, in 2022.

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

Note that I'm requesting information about both law enforcement and detention related force.

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

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ Your request will be forwarded to the relevant county 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.

PLEASE NOTE: The Florida Freedom of Public Information Act (Florida Sunshine Law) does not require a governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions.
Please do not reply to this correspondence 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 Public Records Center.
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

--- Please respond above this line ---

04/02/2024
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of March 24, 2024, Reference # P123287-032424.
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office received a public records request from you on March 24, 2024. Your request mentioned:
“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, separated by year, from 2016-2022 (for example, 302 use of force incidents in 2016, 287 use of force incidents in 2017, etc.). Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in 2022 were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used from 2016-2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2016, baton incidents in 2016, etc.).

3. the total number of officer-involved shootings from 2016-2022, both fatal and non-fatal, separated by year.

4. the total number of people who the sheriff’s department used force against, broken down by race/ethnicity, in 2022.

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

Note that I'm requesting information about both law enforcement and detention related force.

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

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
In response to your request, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office completed a search of our records and there are potential items responsive to your public records request. Your request has taken in excess of fifteen minutes, as such, the cost for these records is as follows:
Fees Charged:
Labor: $18.48
(0.50 hours @$36.95/hour)
Total: $18.48
Payments must be made within 60 days or your request will be considered withdrawn. The following are acceptable forms of payment; cash – exact amount (change cannot be provided), money order or a check made out to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Please send a check made out to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, with “PRR No. P123287-032424” written in the memo section and mail to:
Pinellas County Sheriff's Office PRPU
P. O. Drawer 2500
Largo, FL 33779-2500
Your public records request will be processed upon receipt of your payment. Should the processing of the request exceed the estimated time, you will be invoiced for the difference.  In the event the request takes less time than originally estimated, we will refund the difference.
Sincerely,
Deanna Hazatone
Public Records Specialist
Public Records Processing Unit

--- Please respond above this line ---

04/24/2024

RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of March 24, 2024, Reference # P123287-032424.
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office received a public records request from you on March 24, 2024. Your request mentioned:
"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, separated by year, from 2016-2022 (for example, 302 use of force incidents in 2016, 287 use of force incidents in 2017, etc.). Please include as part of this a breakdown of how many use of force incidents in 2022 were related to law enforcement operations and how many were related to correctional/custodial operations.

2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year used from 2016-2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2016, baton incidents in 2016, etc.).

3. the total number of officer-involved shootings from 2016-2022, both fatal and non-fatal, separated by year.

4. the total number of people who the sheriff’s department used force against, broken down by race/ethnicity, in 2022.

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

Note that I'm requesting information about both law enforcement and detention related force.

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

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office has reviewed its files and has located responsive records to your request. Please log in to the Public Records Center to retrieve the appropriate responsive documents.
Public Records Request - P123287-032424
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Sincerely,
Deanna Hazatone
Public Records Specialist
Public Records Processing Unit