Crime statistics, drug related deaths, overdoses in November 2018
Rebecca Wallach made this OPRA request to Rockaway Township This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.
Dear Rockaway Township,
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.
Records requested:
Crime reports and death certificates relating to Opioid overdoses and deaths reported in November 2018. Detailed locations, deceased individual, autopsy, blood test results, person involved, investigational notes relating to each incident noted in November 2018, in Rockaway, New Jersey.
Yours faithfully,
Rebecca Wallach
Good Afternoon,
More time is needed to respond to your request, you may expect a further response on or before April 26, 2019.
Respectfully,
Christina Clipperton
Acting Township Clerk
Township of Rockaway
65 Mt. Hope Road
Rockaway, NJ 07866
(973)983-2834
Good Afternoon,
Your OPRA request of April 10, 2019, must be denied as it is overly broad
and unclear. Please refer to MAG Entertainment v. Division of Alcohol
Beverage Control, 375 N.J. Super 534. The phrase “crime reports” has no
meaning as there are many different types of police reports and criminal
investigatory records are exempt from disclosure under OPRA. Please see
Janeczko v. NJ Department of Law and Public Safety, GRC Complaint Numbers
2002-79 and 80. OPRA is not intended as a research tool that may be used
to require government officials to identify and syphon useful information.
Rather, OPRA simply operates to make identifiable government records
accessible for inspection. N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1. Moreover, Rockaway Township
does not independently maintain autopsy results, blood test results, etc.,
unless same happened to be the result of a criminal investigation, in
which case the records would be exempt from disclosure for the reason
previously stated. Lastly, records pertaining to autopsy results; blood
test results; or any personal or health related information may also be
exempt by reason of privacy concerns or by the operation of HIPPA.
Respectfully,
Christina Clipperton
Acting Township Clerk
Township of Rockaway
65 Mt. Hope Road
Rockaway, NJ 07866
(973)983-2834