Briefcam user manuals, audit logs, and metadata
It is a clone of this request.
| Tracking # |
24-2457 |
| Submitted | Sept. 10, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Todd Feathers
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
1) User manuals, handbooks, or comparable instructional documents provided to the department by Briefcam regarding Briefcam products and services.
2) User audit logs documenting each time a department account has accessed or taken action on the Briefcam platform from 1/1/2024 until the date this request is processed. Briefcam audit logs are recorded in a database that can be exported or accessed via API so I ask that you provide it to me as a .csv, .xls, or other database filetype.
3) Metadata for each real-time and smart alert generated by the department's Briefcam system from 1/1/2024 until the date this request is processed. Briefcam automatically notifies authorized users when connected cameras detect pre-defined events (e.g. a crowd gathering) or profiles (e.g. a vehicle of interest). Please note that I am not requesting the video footage or any personally identifying information associated with the alert, but rather the metadata. Metadata includes, but is not limited to: the type of alert, any rules set for the alert, the date and time of the alert, who received the alert, locations associated with the alert, and algorithmic confidence scores associated with the alert. This metadata is stored in a database so I ask that you provide it to me as a .csv, .xls, or other database filetype.
If you have any questions about this request, please do not hesitate to ask. If you would like to set up a time to discuss this request over the phone, please email me at tfeathers@gizmodo.com.
In the event that you determine certain records or portions of records are exempt from disclosure, I ask that you provide a detailed explanation of the records or portions of records being withheld and the statutory exemptions under which they are being withheld.
I am requesting these records as a journalist in order to write articles in the public interest about the operations of a government agency.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
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, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
From: Springfield Police Department
City of Springfield, MA
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Your record request #24-2457 has been submitted successfully.
Dear Public Records Requester:
The City of Springfield is in receipt of your public records request.
Your request will be forwarded to the appropriate department[s] and a response will be sent to you as soon as we have obtained and reviewed any document[s] that may be responsive to your request. Pursuant to M.G.L. ch. 66, §10(b), the City has ten [10] business days to respond to your request.
Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Records at the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and M.G.L. ch. 66, §10A(a). A copy of your request letter or email should be included with your appeal and mailed to:
Supervisor of Records
One Ashburton Place, Room 1719
Boston, MA 02108
You also have the right to seek judicial review of an unfavorable decision by commencing a civil action in the Superior Court under M.G.L. ch. 66, §10A(a). You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below. An email will be sent to you once your request has been completed.
Thank you for using the City of Springfield's Public Record Request Portal.
Sincerely,
Justin P. Morin
Public Records Coordinator
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Reply to this email or sign in to contact City of Springfield, MA.<br><br>
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From: Springfield Police Department
City of Springfield, MA
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A message was sent to you regarding record request #24-2457:
Dear Requester,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for: “Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
1) User manuals, handbooks, or comparable instructional documents provided to the department by Briefcam regarding Briefcam products and services.
2) User audit logs documenting each time a department account has accessed or taken action on the Briefcam platform from 1/1/2024 until the date this request is processed. Briefcam audit logs are recorded in a database that can be exported or accessed via API so I ask that you provide it to me as a .csv, .xls, or other database filetype.
3) Metadata for each real-time and smart alert generated by the department's Briefcam system from 1/1/2024 until the date this request is processed. Briefcam automatically notifies authorized users when connected cameras detect pre-defined events (e.g. a crowd gathering) or profiles (e.g. a vehicle of interest). Please note that I am not requesting the video footage or any personally identifying information associated with the alert, but rather the metadata. Metadata includes, but is not limited to: the type of alert, any rules set for the alert, the date and time of the alert, who received the alert, locations associated with the alert, and algorithmic confidence scores associated with the alert. This metadata is stored in a database so I ask that you provide it to me as a .csv, .xls, or other database filetype.
If you have any questions about this request, please do not hesitate to ask. If you would like to set up a time to discuss this request over the phone, please email me at tfeathers@gizmodo.com.
In the event that you determine certain records or portions of records are exempt from disclosure, I ask that you provide a detailed explanation of the records or portions of records being withheld and the statutory exemptions under which they are being withheld.
I am requesting these records as a journalist in order to write articles in the public interest about the operations of a government agency.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
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, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
The City of Springfield requires a ten (10) day extension to continue its efforts of fulfilling your public record request. Please consent to this extension in the NextRequest Portal: City of Springfield Public Records Portal.
You may provide a response in the portal by responding to this email.
Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and M.G.L. ch. 66, § 10(b).
Please contact the Public Records Division by responding to this email or by phone at (413) 787-6085 with any questions. Please reference your Public Records Request number in all correspondence regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Public Records Division
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Springfield, MA.<br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href="https://www.nextrequest.civicplus.help/hc/en-us/categories/17720084172567-Requesters">help page</a>
From: Springfield Police Department
City of Springfield, MA
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A document has been released to you for record request #24-2457:
* Copy of Audit-Log activity 1-1-2024 to 9-23-2024_Redacted.pdf
Document links are valid for one month.
After November 9, you will need to sign in to view the document(s).
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Springfield, MA.<br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href="https://www.nextrequest.civicplus.help/hc/en-us/categories/17720084172567-Requesters">help page</a>
From: Springfield Police Department
City of Springfield, MA
************************************************************************
A message was sent to you regarding record request #24-2457:
Dear Todd Feathers,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for: “To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
1) User manuals, handbooks, or comparable instructional documents provided to the department by Briefcam regarding Briefcam products and services.
2) User audit logs documenting each time a department account has accessed or taken action on the Briefcam platform from 1/1/2024 until the date this request is processed. Briefcam audit logs are recorded in a database that can be exported or accessed via API so I ask that you provide it to me as a .csv, .xls, or other database filetype.
3) Metadata for each real-time and smart alert generated by the department's Briefcam system from 1/1/2024 until the date this request is processed. Briefcam automatically notifies authorized users when connected cameras detect pre-defined events (e.g. a crowd gathering) or profiles (e.g. a vehicle of interest). Please note that I am not requesting the video footage or any personally identifying information associated with the alert, but rather the metadata. Metadata includes, but is not limited to: the type of alert, any rules set for the alert, the date and time of the alert, who received the alert, locations associated with the alert, and algorithmic confidence scores associated with the alert. This metadata is stored in a database so I ask that you provide it to me as a .csv, .xls, or other database filetype.
If you have any questions about this request, please do not hesitate to ask. If you would like to set up a time to discuss this request over the phone, please email me at tfeathers@gizmodo.com.
In the event that you determine certain records or portions of records are exempt from disclosure, I ask that you provide a detailed explanation of the records or portions of records being withheld and the statutory exemptions under which they are being withheld.
I am requesting these records as a journalist in order to write articles in the public interest about the operations of a government agency.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
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, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Todd Feathers
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Personnel at the Police Department have submitted a record in response to your request. Please log in to the Public Records Center using the following link to retrieve the responsive documents: City of Springfield Public Records Portal.
The Public Records Division has been advised that no responsive records exist in regard to your request for training manuals and handbooks as the training was held online and with an online help option for questions. Therefore, no responsive record exists.
Records have been redacted pursuant to M.G.L. ch. 4, § 7(26)(f) (also known as "Exemption (f) - 'The Investigatory Exemption"). Exemption (f) provides a basis for withholding "investigatory materials necessarily compiled out of the public view by law enforcement or other investigatory officials the disclosure of which materials would probably so prejudice the possibility of effective law enforcement that such disclosure would not be in the public interest." The release of the records you requested, even in their redacted form, would compromise the integrity of the investigation process by revealing confidential information, the identity and contact information of witnesses, police investigatory techniques, and other sensitive law enforcement information. This information could also be utilized to compromise future law enforcement activities related to the investigation and prevention of crime. The integrity of the investigative process is vital, which is why these materials are gathered and secured out of public view. Therefore, police incident report numbers have been redacted to prevent alerting suspects to the status of ongoing law enforcement investigations.
Should you be aggrieved by this response, you may appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State’s Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and M.G.L. ch. 66, § 10(b).
Please contact the Public Records Division by responding to this email or by phone at (413) 787-6085 with any questions. Please reference your Public Records Request number in all correspondence regarding this request.
Sincerely,
Public Records Division
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Springfield, MA.<br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href="https://www.nextrequest.civicplus.help/hc/en-us/categories/17720084172567-Requesters">help page</a>
From: Springfield Police Department
City of Springfield, MA
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Record request #24-2457 has been closed.
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<em>Questions about your request?</em> Reply to this email or sign in to contact staff at City of Springfield, MA.<br><em>Technical support:</em> See our <a href="https://www.nextrequest.civicplus.help/hc/en-us/categories/17720084172567-Requesters">help page</a>