Emerson Police Department Open Records Request
Dear Emerson Borough,
Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
Arrest reports related to traffic stops including officer narrative from 01/01/2025 to 01/07/2025.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.
Yours faithfully,
Ciaran Johnson
Good afternoon Ciaran Johnson,
The Borough of Emerson, and I, as its Custodian of Records, received your Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request and common law right of access request on March 14, 2025 for "Arrest reports related to traffic stops including officer narrative from 01/01/2025 to 01/07/2025." As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is March 25, 2025. This response is being provided to you on the 7th business day.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, please be advised that an extension of time, as is permitted by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i., to fulfill your request. A response will be provided to you by April 3, 2025.
Thank you and have a good night.
Michelle Ryan
Acting Borough Clerk
Borough of Emerson
1 Municipal Place
Emerson, New Jersey 07630
Tel: 201-262-6086 ext. 1200
Email: [Emerson Borough request email]
Website: www.emersonnj.org
Good evening,
Please be advised that the Borough of Emerson requires a further extension until April 7, 2025, as is permitted by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i., to fulfill your request due to unforeseen circumstances.
Thank you and have a good night.
Michelle Ryan
Acting Borough Clerk
Borough of Emerson
1 Municipal Place
Emerson, New Jersey 07630
Tel: 201-262-6086 ext. 1200
Email: [Emerson Borough request email]
Website: www.emersonnj.org
Good evening Ciaran Johnson,
The Borough of Emerson, and I, as its Custodian of Records, received your Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request and common law right of access request, below, on March 14, 2025 for "Arrest reports related to traffic stops including officer narrative from 01/01/2025 to 01/07/2025." As such, the seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request was March 25, 2025, however, I advised that extensions, as is permitted by N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i(1), were needed due to unforeseen circumstances until April 7, 2025. This response is being provided to you on April 7, 2025.
Please be advised that your OPRA request is incomplete pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5f. You have failed to provide to me all the information required on the Borough of Emerson's Adopted OPRA Request form in order to be deemed a valid and complete OPRA request. Your request is, therefore, denied in accordance with N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5f, and will be closed.
Attached, please find the Borough of Emerson's Adopted OPRA Request form, which provides requestors with all the information to be submitted as part of a valid and complete OPRA request. You do not have to complete this actual request form though. While you can submit a new government record request utilizing the attached fillable form, please know that you can simply email me or send a letter to me including all of the form's required information. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions.
As you also made a government record request under the common law right of access, below, please be further advised that you have not provided me with your legally recognized interest in the subject matter contained in the material being sought, as is required, and therefore, I could not conduct a balancing test, as is also required, to determine whether your interest is a valid one that outweighs any interest of the Borough of Emerson to prevent disclosure. Therefore, your request under the common law right of access is also denied.
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or unfilled within the seven (7) or fourteen (14) business days required by law, you have a right to challenge the decision by the Borough of Emerson to deny access. At your option, you may either: 1) institute a proceeding in the Superior Court of New Jersey; or 2) file a complaint with the Government Records Council (“GRC”) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form. All questions regarding complaints filed in Superior Court should be directed to the Court Clerk in your County. Questions regarding the GRC’s Denial of Access Complaint process can be directed to the GRC toll-free telephone at 866-850-0511, by mail at P.O. Box 819, Trenton, NJ, 08625, by e-mail at [email address], or at their web site at www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council can answer general inquiries about OPRA.
Have a good night.
Michelle Ryan
Acting Borough Clerk
Borough of Emerson
1 Municipal Place
Emerson, New Jersey 07630
Tel: 201-262-6086 ext. 1200
Email: [Emerson Borough request email]
Website: www.emersonnj.org