Police data collection (2017-2022) (Piscataway Police Department)
| Multi Request | Police data collection (2017-2022) |
| Submitted | March 17, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
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 reported from 2017-2022, separated by year.
2. the total number of use of force incidents, separated by type of force and year, from 2017-2022 (for example, information that specifies the number of taser incidents in 2022, baton incidents in 2022, taser incidents in 2021, baton incidents in 2021, etc.)
3. the total number of civilian complaints against law enforcement that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
4. the total number of civilian complaints alleging law enforcement use of excessive force that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
5. the total number of civilian complaints alleging biased policing or racial profiling that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
7. the total number of officer-involved shootings from 2017-2022, both fatal and non-fatal, separated by year.
8. the total number of people who police used force against in 2022, broken down by race/ethnicity.
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 7 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From:
Hello!
Our office has received your OPRA request. Due to our computer systems being down, your OPRA request requires additional time beyond the seven (7) business days to fulfill. OPRA allows custodians to seek extensions of time pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i. Specifically, OPRA states that, "the requestor shall be advised by the custodian when the record can be made available. If the record is not made available by that time, access shall be deemed denied."
Your request requires an extension of time until Friday, April 12th.
If documents are compiled sooner than the aforementioned date, they will be forwarded to you immediately.
We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to process the influx of OPRA requests.
Thank you,
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following New Jersey Open Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 19, 2024. You previously indicated that it would be completed on April 12, 2024. I wanted to let you know that I am still interested in the following documents, and to see if that date was still accurate.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I'm following up on the following New Jersey Open Public Records Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on March 19, 2024. You had previously indicated that it would be completed on April 12, 2024. I wanted to check on the status of my request, and to see if there was a new estimated completion date.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Piscataway Police Department
Hello!
Our office has received your OPRA request. Due to our computer systems being down, your OPRA request requires additional time beyond the seven (7) business days to fulfill. OPRA allows custodians to seek extensions of time pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i. Specifically, OPRA states that, “the requestor shall be advised by the custodian when the record can be made available. If the record is not made available by that time, access shall be deemed denied.”
Your request requires an extension of time until Friday, April 19th.
If documents are compiled sooner than the aforementioned date, they will be forwarded to you immediately.
We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to process the influx of OPRA requests.
Thank you,
Kelly Mitch
Deputy Township Clerk
From: Piscataway Police Department
Good Morning,
Your OPRA request requires additional time beyond the seven (7) business days for legal review. OPRA allows custodians to seek extensions of time pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i. Specifically, OPRA states that, "the requestor shall be advised by the custodian when the record can be made available. If the record is not made available by that time, access shall be deemed denied."
Your request requires an extension of time until Friday, May 3rd.
If documents are compiled sooner than the aforementioned date, they will be forwarded to you immediately.
Thank you,
From: Piscataway Police Department
Good Afternoon,
Your OPRA request requires additional time beyond the seven (7) business days for legal review. OPRA allows custodians to seek extensions of time pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i. Specifically, OPRA states that, "the requestor shall be advised by the custodian when the record can be made available. If the record is not made available by that time, access shall be deemed denied."
Your request requires an extension of time until Friday, May 17th.
If documents are compiled sooner than the aforementioned date, they will be forwarded to you immediately.
Thank you,
From: Piscataway Police Department
Good Afternoon,
Your OPRA request requires additional time beyond the seven (7) business days for legal review. OPRA allows custodians to seek extensions of time pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i. Specifically, OPRA states that, "the requestor shall be advised by the custodian when the record can be made available. If the record is not made available by that time, access shall be deemed denied."
Your request requires an extension of time until Tuesday, May 21st.
If documents are compiled sooner than the aforementioned date, they will be forwarded to you immediately.
Thank you,
From: Piscataway Police Department
Good Afternoon,
Your OPRA request requires additional time beyond the seven (7) business days for legal review. OPRA allows custodians to seek extensions of time pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i. Specifically, OPRA states that, "the requestor shall be advised by the custodian when the record can be made available. If the record is not made available by that time, access shall be deemed denied."
Your request requires an extension of time until Tuesday, May 28th.
If documents are compiled sooner than the aforementioned date, they will be forwarded to you immediately.
Thank you,
From: Piscataway Police Department
Good Afternoon,
There are no reports that are responsive to your requests. Please note that the Township is not required to create a list or record responsive to an OPRA request. The Courts have stated:
1. Matthews v. City of Atlantic City (Atlantic), GRC Complaint No. 2008-123 (February 2009): The Council decided that a custodian “was under no obligation to create a list compatible to the Complainant’s OPRA request because OPRA does not require a custodian to produce new documents . . .” Id. at 6.
2. Librizzi v. Twp. of Verona Police Dep’t, GRC Complaint No. 2009-213 (August 2010): The Council held that the custodian was under no obligation to create a record in response to the complainant’s OPRA request.
3. Goeckel v. Chatham Borough Police Dep’t (Morris), GRC Complaint No. 2013-356 (July 2014): The Council noted that “[t]he GRC has determined that a custodian was under no obligation to provide a record that had not been created at the time of an OPRA request. Blau v. Union Cnty., GRC Complaint No. 2003-75 (January 2005); Paff v. v. Neptune Twp. Hous. Auth. (Monmouth), GRC Complaint No. 2010-307 (Interim Order dated April 25, 2012); Delbury v. Greystone Park Psychiatric Hosp. (Morris), GRC Complaint No. 2013-240 (Interim Order dated April 29, 2014).” Id. at 3.
However, as a courtesy, the Township has reviewed the pertinent documentation and provides the following responses to your inquiries. Please note that said response is not a waiver of any exemptions or rights under the Open Public Records Act:
1. Total # of use of force incidents 2017-2022
a. 2017: 7
b. 2018: 10
c. 2019: 9
d. 2020: 8
e. 2021: 9
f. 2022: 28
2. Total # of use of force reports separated by type of force 2017-2022
a. 2017: 4 Compliance Hold
3 OC Spray
b. 2018: 8 Compliance Hold
1 OC Spray
1 Compliance Hold and OC Spray
c. 2019: 9 Compliance Hold
d. 2020: 6 Compliance Hold
1 OC Spray
1 Compliance Hold & OC Spray
e. 2021: 9 Compliance Hold
f. 2022: 28 Compliance Hold
3. Total civilian complaints 2017-2022
a. 2017: 18 reported, 5 sustained
b. 2018: 10 reported, 1 sustained
c. 2019: 7 reported, 1 sustained
d. 2020: 10 reported, 2 sustained
e. 2021: 10 reported, 0 sustained
f. 2022: 12 reported, 5 sustained
4. Excessive Force complaints 2017-2022
a. 2017: 2 reported, 0 sustained
b. 2018: 1 reported, 1 sustained
c. 2019: 0 reported
d. 2020: 0 reported
e. 2021: 0 reported
f. 2022: 1 reported, 0 sustained
5. Bias Policing/Racial Profiling complaints:
a. 2017: 0 reported
b. 2018: 1 reported, 0 sustained
c. 2019: 0 reported
d. 2020: 0 reported
e. 2021: 0 reported
f. 2022: 0 reported
6. Criminal Conduct complaints:
a. 2017: 3 reported, 2 sustained
b. 2018: 1 reported, 0 sustained
c. 2019: 1 reported, 1 sustained
d. 2020: 5 reported, 1 sustained
e. 2021: 0 reported
f. 2022: 1 reported, 1 sustained
7. Total # of officers involved shooting
a. 0
8. Use of Force in 2022 by race/ethnicity
a. White female: 2
b. White male: 9
c. Hispanic male: 5
d. Black female: 3
e. Black male: 9
Your request is now closed.
Thank you,
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