Police data collection (2017-2022)
| Tracking # |
24-1428 |
| Submitted | May 24, 2024 |
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Communications
From: Samuel Sinyangwe
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, 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 2021-2022 (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 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.
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,
Samuel Sinyangwe
From: Springfield Police Department
City of Springfield, MA
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Your record request #24-1428 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 Mass. Gen. Laws chapter 66, section 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 Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office pursuant to 950 C.M.R. 32.00 and Mass. Gen. Laws chapter 66, section 10A(a). Below is the Supervisor's contact information. 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 Mass. Gen. Laws chapter 66, section 10A(c). 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 #24-1428:
Dear Requester,
This email is in response to your public records request to the City of Springfield for:
“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 2021-2022 (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 people who police used force against in 2022, broken down by race/ethnicity.”
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
************************************************************************
<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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Documents have been released to you for record request #24-1428:
* PRR_2013-2020.docx
* UOF_Totals.xlsx
Document links are valid for one month.
After July 25, you will need to sign in to view the document(s).
************************************************************************
<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>
-
UOF_Totals
From: Springfield Police Department
City of Springfield, MA
************************************************************************
Documents have been released to you for record request #24-1428:
* PRR_2013-2020.docx
* UOF_Totals.xlsx
Document links are valid for one month.
After July 25, you will need to sign in to view the document(s).
************************************************************************
<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 #24-1428:
* 2022 PRR R008706-081023.docx
Document links are valid for one month.
After July 25, you will need to sign in to view the document(s).
************************************************************************
<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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Documents have been released to you for record request #24-1428:
* OC_reporting_01.2021-05.2021_Redacted.pdf
* For_the_PRR_attached.docx
* Taser_reporting_01.2021-05.2021_Redacted (1).pdf
Document links are valid for one month.
After July 25, you will need to sign in to view the document(s).
************************************************************************
<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 #24-1428:
Dear Samuel Sinyangwe:
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. 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 2021-2022 (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 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.
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,
Samuel Sinyangwe
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
The Public Records Division has been advised that there are no records responsive to your request for records or statistics listing all use-of-force incidents separated by type between 2021 and 2022 or use-of-force data by race/ethnicity in 2022. Please note that use-of-force tracking software was not implemented until the Spring of 2023. The City's duty to respond to public records requests extends only to records that are in existence and the custody of the City at the time the request is received. The City is under no obligation to create a record in response to record requests. See Secretary of the Commonwealth, Division of Public Records, A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law 8.
Please refer to the City’s responses to your previous requests for use of force data for the years 2013 and 2022 in Public Record Requests Numbers R008706-081023, R005731-061322, and R004143-081821. For your convenience, the responsive records previously released to you have been uploaded to this matter. Please log in to the Public Records Center at the following link to retrieve the responsive documents: City of Springfield Public Records Portal.
Please be advised that the Board of Police Commissioners is the designated authority responsible for reviewing complaints against officers and making determinations. Please refer to the Board of Police Commissioners' quarterly and annual reports for additional use of force data since 2022: Board of Police Commissioners: City of Springfield, MA (springfield-ma.gov). The Board of Police Commissioners was preempted by the Community Police Hearing Board. Community Police Hearing Board's quarterly and annual reports for additional use of force data between 2011 and 2021 at the following link: Community Police Hearing Board: City of Springfield, MA (springfield-ma.gov).
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 #24-1428 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>