Can The Agency Ask Me To Pay For The Time It Takes Them To Locate Files Or Redact Audio Or Video
No. The Public Records Act allows agencies only the charge for the “direct costs of duplication, or a statutory fee if appliable.”9 That means that agencies can charge for the costs of paper and ink, or for the disks or drives on which they provide data, but cannot charge for the time their staff spend finding records, making copies or even redacting documents. Despite this, for several years, police agencies still tried to charge requestors an hourly rate, often amounting to thousands of dollars, for the time their staff spent editing body camera video to redact confidential information, arguing that editing video was more like programming a computer to extract data than it was like redacting a document.
However, on May 28, 2020, the California Supreme Court in National Lawyers Guild v. City of Hayward rejected this argument10 and held that the Public Records Act does not allow police departments to charge requestors of police body camera footage for the staff time required to locate that footage and edit it to redact audio & video to remove private information.
If an agency has tried to charge you for the time required to make redactions in audio or video, please see our model follow-up lettera> notifying them of the Hayward decision and informing them such charges are unlawful.
What About Cso Badge Numbers
A Community Service Officer is a special type of officer who assists uniformed police officers. A CSO has limited law enforcement duties, such as issuing parking citations. A CSO for a universitys police department may be a university student.
A CSO may wear a photo ID badge or a badge that says Community Service or Community Service Officer. The badge may have no number. A party who wants to make a complaint about a CSO should provide his description to the police department for which the CSO works.
References
What Is A Police Report
People file a police report with law enforcement for a wide variety of reasons such as domestic disputes, traffic accidents, burglaries, and home invasions, fraud, theft, stalking, violence, and many other reasons. To file a report, citizens usually begin by calling 911, or their local police departments non-emergency line, to report the incident.
Once a citizen reports an incident, dispatchers assign it to local officers in the area. The police officers travel to the appropriate location via car, motorcycle, or other police vehicles. Then, the officers evaluate the situation, make observations, interview witnesses, record data, and complete forms and reports required by their local police department.
Police officers also initiate the filing of a report to record the data and gather the details associated with criminal and civil incidents such as car accidents, burglaries, assaults, and robberies, just to name a few.
Officers gather and record a great deal of information and data on a police report. This is to help ensure thorough and accurate investigations and to support criminal proceedings if they become necessary. Also, background verification services may use them in background checks. The information contained in the typical police report may vary from county to county, but most capture very similar information.
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When New Rules Apply
New rules apply if an officer asks you to identify yourself when they are:
- looking into suspicious activities
- investigating general criminal activity in the community
New rules for street checks do not apply if the officer is:
- talking to a driver during a traffic stop
- arresting or detaining you
- investigating a specific crime
Officer Says Reunion Was Highlight Of His Career
“To see her sitting there in the way that she was, it was just incredible,” one of the four officers, Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Blaine, said.
Twice he asked her what her name was, and twice she didn’t answer, possibly scared or shocked at seeing these people in the middle of the night.
“So I asked her a third time and she looked at me and she said, ‘My name’s Cleo.’
They walked straight back out of the house, one of the officers carrying Cleo in his arms.
Extraordinary bodycam video from one of the officers shows what then happens in Cleo’s first moments of freedom.
“Cleo, my name’s Cameron. How are you? Are you OK?” Senior Sergeant Blaine gently asks.
She nods with a half smile, nervously pulling at the hoodie of the policeman carrying her with both hands.
“We’re going to take you to see your mummy and daddy, OK? Is that good?”
Cleo nods again, more enthusiastically.
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Report A Crime Online
Our online Citizen Self Reporting tool allows you to report minor crimes such as theft, property damage and driving complaints. You can use this tool to submit a report from your computer or mobile device without going to an OPP detachment. All submissions will be sent directly to the OPP and reviewed by an officer.
Some Officers Dont Wear Badges
Not all officers are required to wear a badge. Police departments have discretion as to whether an officer must wear a badge. In Massachusetts, a uniformed police officer is not required to wear a badge that identifies her by name. An officer who wears a badge lacking a name must wear a badge that identifies her by number. In California, a uniformed peace officer must wear a badge that displays her name or badge number.
A plainclothes officer, also called an undercover officer, may carry a fake badge or wear no badge, and drive an unmarked police car. A party with a complaint about an officer who is not wearing a badge should contact the police department and describe the officer. Sometimes a plainclothes officer wears a disguise. The party may need to provide very specific information to aid with identification, like the name of the street the officer was on and the time he was there.
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How Can A Police Report Be Used
If youre injured in a car accident, you may find yourself trying to prove that another party is at fault for the accident so that you can be reimbursed for your medical expenses.
A police report can help your case in 2 primary ways:
- The police report may include contact information for helpful witnesses.
- The police report may contain an explanation of the cause of the accident or even a statement about liability.
When you hire a car accident attorney to represent you, one of the first things they will do is reach out to the witnesses identified in the police report to see if they can support your version of events. If the witnesses are helpful to your case, your attorney will have them sign a supporting affidavit and may even take their deposition.
Whats more, the police report may contain a statement from the responding officer explaining the cause of the crash and maybe even identifying who was at fault for the accident.
Keep in mind that these statements are the officers opinions and just because an officer says a party is at fault, doesnt mean the insurance company, judge, or jury will agree.
Enjuris tip:
Whats Available Online Sample Incident Logs
Some police departments put their incident or report logs online.
Here are some examples:
To see San Francisco Bay Area traffic incidents, click on the Communication Centers drop-down menu at the top left and select Golden Gate. To decipher abbreviations used in the incident logs, in the drop-down menu under Resources in the upper right select Glossary.
Berkeley Police Department
Posted daily in pdf format.
Posted daily in pdf format.
Palo Alto Police Department
Posted daily in pdf format.
Davis Police Department
Combines log of arrests and incident log.
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Law Enforcement Directory Search
Police1 law enforcement directory is a comprehensive list of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the United States. The directory includes agency contact information, demographics , and features to connect with law enforcement officers in any agency. Use the search function or interactive map below to search agencies by name, state, and/or type.
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Officer Search: Revocation/suspension Data
This page allows for a search of revocation and suspension data for sworn law enforcement officers in North Carolina. Both the Criminal Justice and Sheriffs Standards Commissions may revoke or suspend an officers certification after a finding that the officer committed or was convicted of a criminal offense or, was in violation of some other Commission rule. Please note that some suspensions are issued for failure to complete a required training, rather than for any criminal act.
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The Records And How To Search For Them
The National Archives has administrative records relating to the Railway and Transport Police, but not records relating to its investigation of crime. To access the records held here you will either need to visit us, pay for research or, where you can identify a specific record reference, order a copy .
Among the records that we hold are the following :
- Corresponence and other records relating to railways staff conferences, covering topics which include pay and conditions, in RAIL 1172
- Personnel department records of the British Transport Commission and British Railways Board, 1928-1994, in AN 174 including records of pay, conditions and training
- Administration records of the Railway Executive Committee which governed the railways during the Second World War in AN 2 and AN 3
Use the advanced search option in our catalogue to limit your search to records with department references RAIL and/or AN. Generally, records from before 1921 have the departmental reference RAIL and those from after 1921 have the reference AN. Search with key words which might include:
- railway police
- transport police
- the name of one of the railway companies listed above and the word police
The British Transport Police hold records on its officers and staff. You can request information from the British Transport Police historical group. The organisation holds several thousand staff record cards dating back to the 1860s.
How To Lookup A Police Report
Whether youve been involved in an accident or you have had a run-in with the law, knowing how to lookup a police report is an important skill. Police reports are public documents and the information they contain could have an impact on a wide range of things, including finding a job, applying for a loan, or pursuing an insurance claim. We are going to give a basic rundown of what a police report is, why its important, and how to lookup a police report.
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What Information Is Contained In A Police Report
If youve ever been involved in a car accident, youve likely seen the responding officer walking around the scene of the accident taking notes. These notes are used in the police report, which, for a car accident, contain some or all of the following information:
- Name of the responding police officer
- Approximate date, time, and location of the accident
- Name and contact information of the parties involved in the accident
- Name and contact information of any witnesses to the accident
- Location of any damage to the vehicles involved in the accident
- The weather, roadway, and lighting conditions at the scene
- A diagram of the accident
- Statements from the parties and witnesses
- Citations and/or violations of law
- Opinion of the officer as to the cause of the accident
Of course, all police reports arent created equal. The general rule of thumb is that the more serious the accident, the more detailed the police report.
Enjuris tip:
Warrant And Capias Information
Q: What is the difference between a warrant and a capias?
A: A warrant is an order which authorizes a law enforcement officer to arrest and bring a person before the judge. A warrant may be issued when a person is charged with a crime, convicted of a crime but failed to appear for sentencing, owes a fine or is in contempt of court. A capias is also an order for arrest of a person, typically issued by the judge or magistrate in a case. It is commonly issued after a defendant fails to attend a scheduled court hearing.
Q: How do I know if I have an outstanding warrant or capias?
A: Respond to any Police District or ask an officer on the street to run a query on your social security number. You should provide some type of identification, if possible. To protect your privacy, police will NOT run a query if you simply call a district on the telephone.
Q: If there is an outstanding warrant or capias, will I be arrested on the spot?
A: Most capiases allow an officer to re-cite, meaning you will be given a new court date. However, if you have been re-cited numerous times and have continued to ignore the court date, the officer may choose to physically arrest you. Most warrants require an officer to physically arrest the person. Once you are re-cited or processed through the Hamilton County Justice Center, the warrant/capias is cancelled by the Hamilton County Central Warrants Department .
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Are Police Reports Public Records
Many types of police records are exempt from public disclosure. There are two main reasons why they arent publicly available. First, disclosing the information could undermine an ongoing investigation. Second, it could jeopardize someones privacy and safety. In some cases, departments will release certain information related to the report, such as to a reporter doing a story. However, they rarely release a full copy.
What Type Of Information And Data Is Contained In A Police Report
The following are types of data and information that may be included in a police report. Please note that there is no universal police report. Information will vary from department to department.
- Identifying information for all parties involved in the incident, including full name, address, phone number, date of birth, social security numbers, driver license numbers
- Date of the occurrence or incident
- Location of the occurrence or incident
- The officers name and ID number
- The names of other officers who were present
- Diagrams or drawings of the scene
- The names of witnesses and their statements
- Reference number
The law enforcement case file may also contain motor vehicle information, as well as specific details of the incident and any evidence associated with the case.
Examples of police reports may include but are not limited to domestic disputes, traffic accidents, thefts, fraud, assault, burglaries, and stalking incidents. Other information that may be available includes crime surveys, crime statistics, calls for service, weather information, and traffic accident surveys.
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Complying With Emergency Orders
Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act , there are consequences for businesses and individuals who choose to defy the Act while emergency orders are in force. The OPP encourages everyone to voluntarily comply with all of these short-term restrictions.
If you wish to file a report regarding non-compliance under the Quarantine Act, call 1 888 310-1122 or your local OPP detachment.
About The Police Department
The Gwinnett County Police Department is an agency with a long history of excellence, integrity, and fairness. The department enjoys a strong relationship with the diverse community it serves and continues to build that reputation by constantly engaging and interacting with the residents. Because of our reputation, high standards, and commitment to excellence, we only recruit and hire the best and most qualified applicants.
The Gwinnett County Police Department is the second largest police agency in Georgia with an authorized strength of 930 sworn Officers and 129 Communications Officers, supported by 296 civilian employees. The department is CALEA accredited, originally attaining that designation in 1993. Gwinnett is located in the northeast part of metro Atlanta, serving a population of more than 800,000 residents with an area of 437 square miles.
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The Rules And What They Mean For You
As of January 1, 2017, if a police officer asks you for ID in a situation when the rules apply, they must:
- have a reason, which cannot be:
- based on race
- only because you are in a high-crime area
- because you refused to answer a question or walked away
If a police officer does not follow these rules, it is a Code of Conduct violation under the Police Services Act and they may be disciplined.