Google Alerts (Metropolitan Police Department)

This is an automated message from the DC Government FOIA system. Dear Emma Best, Request Number 2020-FOIA-07355 has been assigned to the request you submitted in relation to: Request description: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the DC Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

A. Copies of emailed Google Alert subscription confirmations received between January 1, 2016 and the date of the processing of this request.

B. Copies of all emailed Google Alerts received between January 1, 2016 and the date of the processing of this request. Google Alerts may be identified by any or all of the following:

1. Containing the phrase "Google Alert" in the Subject line
2. Being sent by an email address with the display name "Google Alerts"
3. Being sent from the email address googlealerts-noreply@google.com

I am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I have previously written about the government and its activities, with some reaching over 100,000 readers in outlets such as Gizmodo, MuckRock, Motherboard, Property of the People, Unicorn Riot, and The Outline, among others. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established. In addition, I discuss and comment on the files online and make them available through non-profits such as the library Internet Archive and the journalist non-profit MuckRock, disseminating them to a large audience. While my research is not limited to this, a great deal of it, including this, focuses on the activities and attitudes of the government itself. As such, it is not necessary for me to demonstrate the relevance of this particular subject in advance.

As my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by reporting on it and making the raw data available, I request that fees be waived.

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 15 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Emma Best In all future correspondence regarding this request, please reference request number 2020-FOIA-07355. To check for status, please log in  https://foia-dc.gov/palMain.aspx and go to Request Status. For any questions regarding your request, please contact the FOIA office directly. Find the list of agency Open Governement and FOIA contact information by visiting FOIA Contact Information. For ease of reference, we ask that you have your FOIA Request Number available when you contact the FOIA office. (https://dc.gov/node/818962) Regards,
DC Government FOIA Portal Having technical difficulties? Email FOIA.SystemAdmin@dc.gov or call 202-478-5973

DearMs./Mrs. Best, Thisoffice is in receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. YourFOIA request number is 2020-FOIA-07355 and your assigned FOIA Specialist is Tammie Creamer. Ifyou have any questions regarding your request, please contact your assignedFOIA Specialist at (202) 727-3721.  For ease of reference, we ask that youhave your FOIA Request Number available when you contact our office. Please know, pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 2-532(c), we have 15business-days, subject to the possibility of a ten (10) business day extensionto respond to the request as of the date of receipt. Be advised, if your request is for Body WornCamera (BWC) footage, D.C. Code § 2-532(c) allows 25 businessdays subject to the possibility of 15 working-day extension, to respond tothe request as of the date of receipt. COVID-19 Notification Pursuant to section 808 of the CoronavirusSupport Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 , effective June 9, 2020, D.C. Act 23-328, all FOIAdeadlines may be extended during a period of time for which the Mayor hasdeclared a public health emergency.  Pursuant to this provision, we haveclaimed an extension of the time in which to provide a response to yourrequest. egards, LatrinaCrumlin Staff Assistant, FOIA Metropolitan Police Department 300 Indiana Ave NW, RM 4153 Washington, DC 20001

Dear Ms./Mrs. Best, This office is in receipt of your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Your FOIA request number is 2020-FOIA-07355 and your assigned FOIA Specialist is Robert Eckert. If you have any questions regarding your request, please contact your assigned FOIA Specialist at (202) 727-3721.  For ease of reference, we ask that you have your FOIA Request Number available when you contact our office. Please know, pursuant to D.C. Official Code § 2-532(c), we have 15 business-days, subject to the possibility of a ten (10) business day extension to respond to the request as of the date of receipt. Be advised, if your request is for Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage, D.C. Code § 2-532(c) allows 25 business days subject to the possibility of 15 working-day extension, to respond to the request as of the date of receipt. COVID-19 Notification Pursuant to section 808 of the Coronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 , effective June 9, 2020, D.C. Act 23-328, all FOIA deadlines may be extended during a period of time for which the Mayor has declared a public health emergency.  Pursuant to this provision, we have claimed an extension of the time in which to provide a response to your request. egards, Latrina Crumlin Staff Assistant, FOIA Metropolitan Police Department 300 Indiana Ave NW, RM 4153 Washington, DC 20001

This is an automated message from the DC Government FOIA system. Dear Emma Best, The status for your request is below. Please log into https://foia-dc.gov/palMain.aspx and go to Request Status. If you have any questions regarding the status of your request, please contact the agency's FOIA office that you had submitted your FOIA request to. You can communicate directly with the FOIA office by clicking on Inbox, search the request number, and then click Compose Message. OR, visit to see a list DC Government FOIA Office’s/officer’s contact information and have your Request ID ready. (https://dc.gov/node/818962) Contact FOIA Office Request status: In Process Request ID: 2020-FOIA-07355 Description: To Whom It May Concern:Pursuant to the DC Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:A. Copies of emailed Google Alert subscription confirmations received between January 1, 2016 and the date of the processing of this request.B. Copies of all emailed Google Alerts received between January 1, 2016 and the date of the processing of this request. Google Alerts may be identified by any or all of the following:1. Containing the phrase "Google Alert" in the Subject line2. Being sent by an email address with the display name "Google Alerts"3. Being sent from the email address googlealerts-noreply@google.comI am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I have previously written about the government and its activities, with some reaching over 100,000 readers in outlets such as Gizmodo, MuckRock, Motherboard, Property of the People, Unicorn Riot, and The Outline, among others. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established. In addition, I discuss and comment on the files online and make them available through non-profits such as the library Internet Archive and the journalist non-profit MuckRock, disseminating them to a large audience. While my research is not limited to this, a great deal of it, including this, focuses on the activities and attitudes of the government itself. As such, it is not necessary for me to demonstrate the relevance of this particular subject in advance.As my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by reporting on it and making the raw data available, I request that fees be waived.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 15 business days, as the statute requires.Sincerely,Emma Best Regards,
DC Government FOIA Portal

Dear Ms./Mrs. Best, This office is in receipt ofyour Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Your FOIA request number is2020-FOIA-07355 and your assigned FOIA Specialist is Robert Eckert. If you have any questionsregarding your request, please contact your assigned FOIA Specialist at (202)727-3721.  For ease of reference, we ask that you have your FOIA RequestNumber available when you contact our office. Please know, pursuant to D.C.Official Code § 2-532(c), we have 15 business-days, subject to the possibilityof a ten (10) business day extension to respond to the request as of the dateof receipt. Be advised, if your request is for Body Worn Camera (BWC)footage, D.C. Code § 2-532(c) allows 25 business days subject to thepossibility of 15 working-day extension, to respond to the request as of thedate of receipt. COVID-19 Notification Pursuant to section 808 of theCoronavirus Support Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020 , effective June 9, 2020, D.C. Act 23-328, all FOIAdeadlines may be extended during a period of time for which the Mayor hasdeclared a public health emergency.  Pursuant to this provision, we haveclaimed an extension of the time in which to provide a response to yourrequest. Regards, Latrina Crumlin StaffAssistant, FOIA MetropolitanPolice Department 300Indiana Ave NW, RM 4153 Washington,DC 20001

August 6, 2021

Emma Best
411A Highland Avenue
MR 99030
Somerville, Massachusetts 02144
requests@muckrock.com<mailto:requests@muckrock.com>

RE: FOIA Request No.: 2020-FOIA-07355

Dear Ms. Best:

This concerns your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for: "A. Copies of emailed Google Alert subscription confirmations received between January 1, 2016 and the date of the processing of this request. B. Copies of all emailed Google Alerts received between January 1, 2016 and the date of the processing of this request. Google Alerts may be identified by any or all of the following: 1. Containing the phrase "Google Alert" in the Subject line 2. Being sent by an email address with the display name "Google Alerts" 3. Being sent from the email address googlealerts-noreply@google.com"

Upon review, the description of this request was such that we are not able to readily perform a reasonable search. The FOIA specifies that a FOIA request must reasonably describe specific records sought, such that agency staff familiar with the records may reasonably ascertain exactly which records are being requested, and to locate them. The courts have recognized that the legislative history of the FOIA indicates that a description of a requested record is sufficient if it enables a professional agency employee familiar with the subject area to locate the record with a "reasonable amount of effort." Courts have also found that requests that are so broad and sweeping that they lack specificity are not reasonably described.

This FOIA request asks for communications such that, while it describes a category of records, it lacks specificity as to particular, specific subject matter documents; and, electronic searches for such a category may initially produce a large volume of materials that are not related to a specific subject matter at issue. The processing of records produced in an initial search for such a request may take an inordinate amount of limited FOIA processing time. The processing of FOIA requests is very a time- and labor-intensive process, and requires locating tentatively responsive records; re-searching through these to identify material that is actually responsive; reviewing for material that may be exempt from release under the FOIA; coordinating and consulting with components, other agencies, and even external entities which may have an interest in the disposition of the records; and, the completion of further administrative processing and review. The courts have said that the FOIA was not intended to reduce government agencies to be investigators or to perform research on behalf of requesters. Again, the FOIA does not require agencies to conduct "unreasonably burdensome" searches for records.

Please note that the District of Columbia (DC) FOIA, DC Code §§ 2-531-539, provides that while a person has the right to request access to existing records, it does not require agencies to do research, analyze data, answer written questions, or create records to respond to a FOIA request.

Therefore, upon further review of your FOIA request, we find this FOIA request, on the whole, does not meet the standard of reasonableness such as to enable the MPD to readily perform both a reasonable and adequate search for responsive records. Therefore, we are closing our file on this FOIA request. This does not prejudice your ability to submit a new FOIA request, in the future, on this or other subject matter. However, we strongly advise that a significantly more refined and limited description be provided for any future FOIA request(s) such that it is as specific as possible relative to (a) particular document(s), along with, if at all possible, the author and recipient, date, specific subject matter, and content, in order to allow a reasonable search to be completed.

Please know that, under D.C. Official Code § 2-537 and 1 DCMR § 412, you have the right to appeal this letter to the Mayor or to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. If you elect to appeal to the Mayor, your appeal must be in writing and contain "Freedom of Information Act Appeal" or "FOIA Appeal" in the subject line of the letter as well on the outside of the envelope. The appeal must include (1) a copy of the original request; (2) a copy of any written denial; (3) a statement of the circumstances, reasons, and/or arguments advanced in support of disclosure; and (4) a daytime telephone number, an e-mail and/or U.S. mailing address at which you can be reached.

The appeal must be mailed to: The Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel, FOIA Appeal, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 407, Washington, D.C. 20004. Electronic versions of the same information can instead be e-mailed to The Mayor's Office of Legal Counsel at foia.appeals@dc.gov<mailto:foia.appeals@dc.gov>. Further, a copy of all appeal materials must be forwarded to the Freedom of Information Officer of the involved agency, or to the agency head of that agency, if there is no designated Freedom of Information Officer there. Failure to follow these administrative steps will result in delay in the processing and commencement of a response to your appeal to the Mayor.

Sincerely,

Bob Eckert

FOIA Specialist

Freedom of Information Act Office

Metropolitan Police Department

District of Columbia

Robert.eckert@dc.gov<mailto:Robert.eckert@dc.gov>

"Excellence is transferable."

This is an automated message from the DC Government FOIA system. Dear Emma Best, The status for your request is below. Please log into https://foia-dc.gov/palMain.aspx and go to Request Status. If you have any questions regarding the status of your request, please contact the agency's FOIA office that you had submitted your FOIA request to. You can communicate directly with the FOIA office by clicking on Inbox, search the request number, and then click Compose Message. OR, visit to see a list DC Government FOIA Office’s/officer’s contact information and have your Request ID ready. (https://dc.gov/node/818962) Contact FOIA Office Request status: Closed Request ID: 2020-FOIA-07355 Description: To Whom It May Concern:Pursuant to the DC Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:A. Copies of emailed Google Alert subscription confirmations received between January 1, 2016 and the date of the processing of this request.B. Copies of all emailed Google Alerts received between January 1, 2016 and the date of the processing of this request. Google Alerts may be identified by any or all of the following:1. Containing the phrase "Google Alert" in the Subject line2. Being sent by an email address with the display name "Google Alerts"3. Being sent from the email address googlealerts-noreply@google.comI am a member of the news media and request classification as such. I have previously written about the government and its activities, with some reaching over 100,000 readers in outlets such as Gizmodo, MuckRock, Motherboard, Property of the People, Unicorn Riot, and The Outline, among others. As such, as I have a reasonable expectation of publication and my editorial and writing skills are well established. In addition, I discuss and comment on the files online and make them available through non-profits such as the library Internet Archive and the journalist non-profit MuckRock, disseminating them to a large audience. While my research is not limited to this, a great deal of it, including this, focuses on the activities and attitudes of the government itself. As such, it is not necessary for me to demonstrate the relevance of this particular subject in advance.As my primary purpose is to inform about government activities by reporting on it and making the raw data available, I request that fees be waived.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 15 business days, as the statute requires.Sincerely,Emma Best Regards,
DC Government FOIA Portal