Internal affairs annual and quaterly reports
Dear Clark 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:
1- The Clark Police Department's internal affairs summary annual reports available to the public for the years of 2011,2012,2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. (2018-2020 are available on the township's website)
2- Clark Police Department's current Internal Affairs policy currently and all revised versions that were in effect since 2011.
Yours faithfully,
Internal affairs records
Your request has been forwarded to the Custodian of Police Records [email address]
Edith L. Merkel, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of Clark
430 Westfield Ave.
Clark, NJ 07066
(732) 388-3669 ph.
(732) 388-1241 fx.
Dear Clerk's Dept.,
Good afternoon. I am contacting you to request an update on the records requested on 12/23/21.
Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Internal affairs records auditor
Police Records are not maintained by the Clerk's office. Contact the custodian of police records in the Police Department, 732-388-3434 or [email address] .
Edith L. Merkel, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of Clark
430 Westfield Ave.
Clark, NJ 07066
(732) 388-3669 ph.
(732) 388-1241 fx.
Dear Clerk's Dept.,
Good morning. Just to clarify, are you telling me to resubmit my OPRA request again to that specific person? Because on 12/24/21 you told me my request was forwarded to the respective custodian but I am yet to get any response from said person.
Also, I reviewed several requests made to the Township of Clark via this platform and it shows that you have responded to other police related requests, specifically Clark Police memorandums and policies, without having to go thru another custodian of records. Can you please clarify if your procedure has changed and, if so, when?
We wish to be treated equally by obtaining the same service you have given others in the past and Since you are the Custodian of Records of the Township of Clark, which encompasses its Police Department, can you please provide us with an update of the records we are seeking since we have received a response or a request for additional time by its deadline?
Thank you
Yours sincerely,
Internal affairs records auditor
Dear Internal affairs records Seeker:
There is no need to send another request. I have contacted the Police Chief's office on your behalf. COVID has caused staffing shortages.
The OPRA process has not changed and is the same for all requests. If the police record requested is physically maintained in town hall (430 Westfield Ave.) then my office can and will provide it. If the police record requested is physically maintained at police headquarters (315 Westfield Ave.) then the custodian of police records satisfies the request.
You also asked the following question "... can you please provide us with an update of the records we are seeking since we have received a response or a request for additional time by its deadline?" If you tell me who requested additional time I will be happy to contact that person directly.
Edith L. Merkel, RMC
Township Clerk
Township of Clark
430 Westfield Ave.
Clark, NJ 07066
(732) 388-3669 ph.
(732) 388-1241 fx.
Dear Clerk's Dept.,
Thank you for your prompt response. I apologize for the misunderstanding in my previous email. That sentence was suppose to read "... can you please provide us with an update of the records we are seeking since we have NOT received a response nor a request for additional time by its deadline?"
Yours sincerely,
Internal affairs records seeker
January 14, 2022
Internal Affairs Records Seeker
[OPRA #28363 email]
Dear Internal Affairs Records Seeker,
The Clark Police Department received your Open Public Records Act (OPRA)
request on December 22, 2021. The official Records Custodian, Joann
Concina, received your OPRA request on January 7, 2022. As such, the
seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is January 14,
2022. This response to your request is being provided to you on the 7th
business day after the custodian’s receipt of said request.
The following records are being provided in their entirety and are
responsive to your request.
1. IA Annual Summary Reports- 2011 thru 2017
2. Nov. 1, 2021 Revised
3. Sept. 1, 2021 Revised
4. June 18, 2020 Revised
5. June 1, 2016 Revised
These records are being transmitted to you via email, as per your
request. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.b., the cost associated with this
request is $0.00.
If your request for access to a government record has been denied or
unfilled within the seven (7) business days required by law, you have a
right to challenge the decision by the Clark Police Department to deny
access. At your option, you may either institute a proceeding in the
Superior Court of New Jersey or file a complaint with the Government
Records Council (GRC) by completing the Denial of Access Complaint Form.
You may contact the GRC by 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 GRC can also answer other
questions about the law. All questions regarding complaints filed in
Superior Court should be directed to the Court Clerk in your County.
Sincerely,
Joann Concina
Records Custodian
Records Dept. 732-381-5696
Fax: 732-388-5376
Clark Police Department
315 Westfield Avenue
Clark, NJ 07066
Non-Emergency: 732-388-3434