Blue Star Shopping Center parking lot incident 6/13/2023
Dear Watchung Borough,
This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
I am writing to obtain records about an incident in the parking lot of the ShopRite in the Blue Star Shopping Center in Watchung. The incident occurred at approximately 6 PM on Tuesday June 13, 2023 and involved a man tripping in the parking lot and requiring medical attention.
Records requested:
All police and EMS incident numbers, case numbers, CAD numbers, or report numbers associated with the incident.
All incident reports, CAD information, and narratives associated with the incident.
Unredacted 911 call audio and radio transmissions associated with the incident
Unredacted bodycam footage, with audio, from any responding officers.
Yours faithfully,
JQ Public
Greetings,
I am in receipt of your OPRA request. It will be routed to the appropriate department(s) for a search of any relevant disclosable records. Should we require additional time past the 7-business day deadline, we will reach out to request an extension.
Thank you,
Edith G. Gil
Records Custodian
Borough of Watchung
15 Mountain Boulevard
Watchung, New Jersey 07069
Office: (908) 756-0080
Email: [Watchung Borough request email]
Notice: You are advised that copies of correspondence, including e-mail correspondence and attachments, between the public and The Borough of Watchung are obtainable by any person filing a request under the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) unless subject to a specific OPRA exception.
Good morning,
As per your OPRA Request of June 14th, 2023, regarding the above, attached
is
CAD Report 23-10348. Some of the information has been redacted due to
the call being
medical in nature. See attached sheet, Executive Order No. 26, for the
exemption rule.
If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
JoAnn Estrella
Records
Watchung Police Department
840 Somerset Street
Watchung, NJ 07069
Phone 908-756-3663 ext. 124
FAX 908-756-7853
Email [email address]
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
This email message is intended only for the use of the individual or
entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is
privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law.
If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this
communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message
in error, please notify us immediately by telephone (908) 756-3663 and
delete and destroy the original message.
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From: Estrella
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2023 9:42 AM
To: Boyle
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Blue Star Shopping Center parking
lot incident 6/13/2023
Ken, this is 23-10348. It was a squad call, so not releasable. I will
find the rule number before I
respond to JQ Public.
JoAnn Estrella
Records
Watchung Police Department
840 Somerset Street
Watchung, NJ 07069
Phone 908-756-3663 ext. 124
FAX 908-756-7853
Email [email address]
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
This email message is intended only for the use of the individual or
entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is
privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law.
If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this
communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message
in error, please notify us immediately by telephone (908) 756-3663 and
delete and destroy the original message.
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From: Boyle
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2023 8:47:20 AM
To: Estrella
Subject: Fw: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Blue Star Shopping Center parking
lot incident 6/13/2023
FYI, Incoming opra request that we will handle.
GC 23-10348
Lt. Ken Boyle
Administrative Lieutenant
Watchung Police Department
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From: Edith Gil <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2023 7:56 AM
To: Boyle
Cc: Regina Angelo
Subject: FW: [EXTERNAL] OPRA request - Blue Star Shopping Center parking
lot incident 6/13/2023
GM Lt. Boyle,
See below request. Please advise if you wish to handle directly or if you
would like us to coordinate.
Best,
Edith G. Gil
Borough Clerk
Borough of Watchung
Thank you JoAnn. I understand and accept the redaction of the CAD report. Can you confirm whether or not there is bodycam footage from Ptl. Sean Bouchard or others, or 911 audio that is responsive to this request, and attach unredacted copies of those if they exists?
Yours sincerely,
JQ Public
Good morning,
There is BWC footage from responding Officer Bouchard. However, due to
the nature of the call, the video would have to be reviewed for the
necessary redactions. There is a special service fee of $71.25 per hour
for the redactions to be done. If you would like to proceed, you will be
advised of the cost prior to it being completed.
There was no 911 call made.
If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
JoAnn Estrella
Records
Watchung Police Department
840 Somerset Street
Watchung, NJ 07069
Phone 908-756-3663 ext. 124
FAX 908-756-7853
Email [email address]
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
This email message is intended only for the use of the individual or
entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is
privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure under applicable law.
If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are
hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this
communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message
in error, please notify us immediately by telephone (908) 756-3663 and
delete and destroy the original message.
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From: JQ Public <[OPRA #46396 email]>
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2023 8:50:08 PM
To: Estrella
Subject: Re: OPRA request - Blue Star Shopping Center parking lot incident
6/13/2023
Thank you JoAnn. I understand and accept the redaction of the CAD report.
Can you confirm whether or not there is bodycam footage from Ptl. Sean
Bouchard or others, or 911 audio that is responsive to this request, and
attach unredacted copies of those if they exists?
Yours sincerely,
JQ Public