Police data collection (2017-2022) (Portage Police Department)

RE: Freedom of Information Act Request of 6/28/2024, Ref. #: Request Number: PS-2024-687

Dear Samuel Sinyangwe,

The Portage Department of Public Safety received a Freedom of Information request from you on 6/28/2024. As your request was submitted electronically, the request is statutorily considered received one business day later. Your request mentioned:

"Portage Police Department FOIA Office 7810 Shaver Road Portage, MI 49024 June 28, 2024 To Whom It May Concern: Pursuant to the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records: 1. the total number of police use of force incidents reported from 2017-2022, separated by year. 2. the total number of police 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 5 business days, as the statute requires. Sincerely, Samuel Sinyangwe View request history, upload responsive documents, and report problems here: https://url4102.request.justfoia.com/ls/click?upn=u001.nrfdmL-2B1UhWpB4V2ArB2sZFAmI7Y4HWGs-2BWx9jsgf-2F62Sdngj-2BJhZJFcDgisq1ATSfe4x5vvE-2BESE-2B3LJAYSMQJWganAqj1UMVDzVLoAiqDkPCveA0aNRObUc-2FHoWXBGy3iDsZSGbckfBOqPEaIutr1s2dHvy0lnzK7Xh9RaN0jaOwgHZ3-2BoihCsTqawRm-2Bt7DOHatw7WaeU7gJ560WqwSh-2FWK7wwbK5PfrJ7If9QpNCK8rvFzG-2FP0TiNEkUkxw7X1MsMd-2FmsXWDoGx8hdlyYt7eNgTCUkoSTPqDgl4QKg9Ax3Opk-2FuwXJi30qshkB0gZRFzzrwsUnUqjqSLg52l6wyKzsL0xU9oJcy7Aj5Ws3u4rrOkhlha3d34nLlb4XqsMvTTvnafc1p1mu86vcFaUn3KvrKRlr7sMcT86Cw-2B6ARHhjuPAINd8JsIyOF5IakiPLak-2FPrUTueYSiPjQSg2fVYw1CjXKp5AsRlC7sHc2em9r7lC7yM9-2FCKTjm9ywCw9e7CknAb4bwKTBJ6KF3uG4bBdqLDYVyU-2FqPdYN1fDUDg-3DQ21u_dgGnty0p3kM0PfVjgLoaMUtbvh-2B6VK8YlrffoSrxx4J-2FoXKgyuL9CsimDgssiRZCgwWEG823stgXktbPFWXFS1iU6P5MyVVQ4ipE1HNT-2B3XECGGzsQhZi5ipPDozpZX-2FbGadLMgiFkoMMgikhievoUjf810RMvl281BwFXD8nK5kSWGP8ZYyAprpHyIfxaENuRtrG0zj30nTdKfQS22mzq5XtQuto4NQ4zO0B5JAjVxcGlwNT5Dh-2Fcnx3P3BCvBHmLBLa-2Fa2dtAFP3izR7q861NQiMSoPuyby-2BlEXLsHlVpvcUnK2-2F2dTbpf2kzFRsYh If prompted for a passcode, please enter: •••••••• Filed via MuckRock.com E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS For mailed responses, please address (see note): MuckRock News DEPT MR 166453 263 Huntington Ave Boston, MA 02115 PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable."

Questions 1 - 4 can be answered by viewing our yearly annual reports. Please log in to the City of Portage FOIA Request Portage Public Portal to retrieve the appropriate responsive documents. Your request number is PS-2024-687. Please note: these can also be viewed by the public on the City of Portage website by searching "Portage Department of Public Safety Annual Report ".

Questions 5 through 8 are answered as follows:

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.
2017 = 0
2018=0
2019 (1) None Sustained
2020=4 (1 Sustained on separate policy violation)
2021 = 2 (None Sustained)
2022 = 1 (None Sustained)


6. the total number of civilian complaints alleging criminal conduct that were reported and the total number sustained from 2017-2022, separated by year.
2021 = 1 (Sustained)


7. the total number of officer-involved shootings from 2017-2022, both fatal and non-fatal, separated by year.
2017-2022 = 0


8. the total number of people who police used force against in 2022, broken down by race/ethnicity.
Total = 83
Hispanic (5)
Black (38)
White (39)
Other (1)

Sincerely,

Jacqueline Truman
Portage Department of Public Safety - Records Clerk


NOTICE: Michigan law provides two means for appealing a denial of all or part of a request under the Freedom of Information Act. You may do one of the following with 180 days:
(1) Submit to the City Council a written appeal that specifically states the word “appeal” and identifies the reason or reasons for reversal of the disclosure denial; or
(2) Commence an action in the circuit court to compel the City’s disclosure of the public records.

Should you prevail in an action commenced under section 10 of the FOIA, the court shall award reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and disbursements. If you or the City prevails in part, the court may, in its discretion, award all or an appropriate portion of reasonable attorneys’ fees, costs, and disbursements.

If the circuit court determines in an action commenced under section 10 of the FOIA that the City arbitrarily and capriciously violated the FOIA by refusal or delay in disclosing or providing copies of a public record, or that the City willfully and intentionally failed to comply with the FOIA or otherwise acted in bad faith, the court shall award, in addition to any actual or compensatory damages, punitive damages as prescribed in the FOIA to the person seeking the right to inspect or receive a copy of a public record