Purchase records and 'less lethal' use records (Santa Monica Police Department)
| Tracking # |
R013290-101221 |
| Multi Request | Purchase records and 'less lethal' use records |
| Submitted | Oct. 8, 2021 |
| Due | Oct. 18, 2021 |
| Est. Completion | Nov. 29, 2021 |
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Communications
From: John Lindsay-Poland
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2015 of any of the following:
• Firearms of .50 caliber or greater
• Patrol rifles (as commonly denominated for law enforcement use) or assault rifles (as defined in Sections 30510 and 30515 of the California Penal Code)
• Wheeled vehicles that are built or modified to provide ballistic protection to their occupants, such as Bearcats or armored personnel carriers.
• Projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents
• Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD)
2. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2018 of explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flash bang" grenades and explosive breaching tools, and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".
3. Records of deployment by your agency since January 1, 2020 of projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents; explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flashbang" grenades and explosive breaching tools; and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".
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.
If you would like to discuss this request, please feel free to reach out to me, John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee, at 510-282-8983.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
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 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
John Lindsay-Poland
From: Santa Monica Police Department
Dear John Lindsay-Poland:
Thank you for your interest in public records of the City of Santa Monica. Your request has been received and is being processed in accordance with the California Government Code, Section 6253(c). Your request was received in this office on 10/12/2021 and given the reference number R013290-101221 for tracking purposes.
Records Requested: To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2015 of any of the following:
• Firearms of .50 caliber or greater
• Patrol rifles (as commonly denominated for law enforcement use) or assault rifles (as defined in Sections 30510 and 30515 of the California Penal Code)
• Wheeled vehicles that are built or modified to provide ballistic protection to their occupants, such as Bearcats or armored personnel carriers.
• Projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents
• Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD)
2. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2018 of explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flash bang" grenades and explosive breaching tools, and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".
3. Records of deployment by your agency since January 1, 2020 of projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents; explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flashbang" grenades and explosive breaching tools; and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".
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.
If you would like to discuss this request, please feel free to reach out to me, John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee, at 510-282-8983.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
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 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
John Lindsay-Poland
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request will be forwarded to the relevant 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 within the next 10 calendar days about the availability and/or provided with copies of the records in question. PLEASE NOTE: The California Public Records Act does not require a governmental body to create new information, to do legal research, or to answer questions.
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.
City of Santa Monica
From: Santa Monica Police Department
--- Please respond above this line ---
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of October 12, 2021, Reference # R013290-101221-- 14-Day Extension.
Dear John Lindsay-Poland:
The City of Santa Monica (the “City”) received your Public Records Act request on October 12, 2021. As allowed pursuant to Government Code section 6253, subdivision (c), we require an additional 14 days to respond to your request due to the following circumstance(s): The need for consultation, which shall be conducted with all practicable speed, among two or more components of the City having substantial subject matter interest therein.
The City anticipates that it will respond to your public records request on November 08, 2021. We appreciate your patience. Sincerely,
City of Santa Monica
From: Santa Monica Police Department
--- Please respond above this line ---
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of October 12, 2021, Reference # R013290-101221.
Dear John Lindsay-Poland,
The City of Santa Monica received a public records request from you dated October 12, 2021. Your request mentioned: “To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2015 of any of the following:
• Firearms of .50 caliber or greater
• Patrol rifles (as commonly denominated for law enforcement use) or assault rifles (as defined in Sections 30510 and 30515 of the California Penal Code)
• Wheeled vehicles that are built or modified to provide ballistic protection to their occupants, such as Bearcats or armored personnel carriers.
• Projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents
• Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD)
2. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2018 of explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flash bang" grenades and explosive breaching tools, and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".
3. Records of deployment by your agency since January 1, 2020 of projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents; explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flashbang" grenades and explosive breaching tools; and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".
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.
If you would like to discuss this request, please feel free to reach out to me, John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee, at 510-282-8983.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
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 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
John Lindsay-Poland
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
The City has reviewed its files and has located responsive records to your request. Please log in to the GovQA system at the following link to retrieve the appropriate responsive documents. Public Records Request - R013290-101221
If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Jamie Wand
City of Santa Monica
-
OneDrive_1_11-8-2021
From: John Lindsay-Poland
Dear Ms. Wand,
Thank you for your response. We consider your response to points #1 and #2 to be complete.
I would appreciate a chance to talk with you in order to help clarify my request, specifically point #3 in my request for deployment records. Not being privy to how the Department maintains records, I would appreciate your assistance in articulating a clear request that is also manageable.
Is it possible for you to give me a call at 510-282-8983?
best,
John Lindsay-Poland
From: John Lindsay-Poland
Dear Ms. Wand,
Thank you for your conversation of earlier today. My PRA request of October 12, 2021 included a request for:
Records of deployment by your agency since January 1, 2020 of projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents; explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flashbang" grenades and explosive breaching tools; and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".
You asked me to clarify what is meant by “deployment records.” Because we do not have internal knowledge of how Santa Monica PD maintains its records, we used a broad term. We submitted an identical request to more than 100 law enforcement agencies, and I attach responses to this request from three of them (Orange County Sheriff’s Office; Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office; and Kern County Sheriff’s Office). Each of these agencies responded with a summary list of deployments that used the referenced equipment. Orange Co. SO deployed the equipment in SWAT operations, while Kern Co. SO responded with a summary of use of force incidents associated with the equipment. Another agency, Santa Clara Co. Sheriff’s Office, responded with incident reports associated with the equipment (which I understand from your letter may not be practical for Santa Monica PD). What the Department is able to do comparable to any of those would be considered responsive to our request.
I would like to note, for the sake of the Department, that new state legislation, AB 481, will require the Department to publish annual summary reports of the use of all of these types of equipment, as well as publish and obtain City Council approval for use policies for them, beginning in May 2022. This request may serve the Department as a trial run for that requirement.
Please let me know if I can clarify this request any further. I look forward to the City’s response.
Yours,
John Lindsay-Poland
American Friends Service Committee
510-282-8983
From: Santa Monica Police Department
--- Please respond above this line ---
RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of October 12, 2021, Reference # R013290-101221.
Dear John Lindsay-Poland,
The City of Santa Monica received a public records request from you dated October 12, 2021. Your request mentioned: “To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2015 of any of the following:
• Firearms of .50 caliber or greater
• Patrol rifles (as commonly denominated for law enforcement use) or assault rifles (as defined in Sections 30510 and 30515 of the California Penal Code)
• Wheeled vehicles that are built or modified to provide ballistic protection to their occupants, such as Bearcats or armored personnel carriers.
• Projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents
• Long-Range Acoustic Device (LRAD)
2. Purchase records, invoices, procurement documents and other documents sufficient to show any and all disbursement of public funds for the acquisition by your agency since July 1, 2018 of explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flash bang" grenades and explosive breaching tools, and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".
3. Records of deployment by your agency since January 1, 2020 of projectile launch platforms, such as 40mm projectile launchers, "bean bag" or specialty impact munition ("SIM") weapons, and "riot guns" used to disperse chemical agents; explosives and pyrotechnics, such as "flashbang" grenades and explosive breaching tools; and chemical weapons such as "teargas" and "pepper balls".
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.
If you would like to discuss this request, please feel free to reach out to me, John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee, at 510-282-8983.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
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 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
John Lindsay-Poland
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Please log in to the GovQA system at the following link to retrieve the City's response to your request. Public Records Request - R013290-101221
If you have any questions, or wish to discuss this further, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Jamie Wand
City of Santa Monica
From: John Lindsay-Poland
Dear Ms. Wand,
Thank you so much for your final response to my Public Records Act request No. R013290-101221. I truly appreciate the effort made to generate information beyond what apparently exists already as a SMPD record.
I also hope that this will serve as preparation for the City's implementation of AB 481, as I noted in a previous response to you, since that legislation will require an annual report on the use of this and similar equipment.
Hoping you have a good holiday,
Best,
John Lindsay-Poland
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