K9 Sergeant Shannon Snook Disciplinary Actions
Dear Somerset County,
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:
Any and all disciplinary records for K9 Sergeant Shannon Snook to include any corrective measures considered "non disciplinary actions" and any/all Internal Affairs records involving Sgt. Shannon Snook (whether she was a witness, target, or complainant) for any and all positions held within Somerset County to include Somerset County Sheriff's Office, Somerset County Office of Emergency Management and Somerset County Prosecutor's Office.
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,
F Smith
[1]See the source image
Dear Requestor,
Thank you for submitting a request for records on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
Your request reference number is [2]Request Number: PRR-2025-739 and your
security key is 155B504E.
Please have both reference numbers available when communicating with our
staff regarding your request.
If you need to make any changes to your request, please send an email
referencing your request number to [3][email address]
Thank you,
Kelly Mager - Custodian of Records
20 Grove Street
PO Box 3000
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 231 - 7030
[Somerset County request email]
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3. mailto:[email address]
Dear F Smith,
The County of Somerset (“County”) records custodian received your Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on 7/10/2025. The seven (7) business day deadline to respond to your request is 7/21/2025 at 12:00:00 am. As such, the County is timely responding to your request in accordance with New Jersey law.
Your OPRA request seeks the following records:
Dear Somerset County, 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: Any and all disciplinary records for K9 Sergeant Shannon Snook to include any corrective measures considered "non disciplinary actions" and any/all Internal Affairs records involving Sgt. Shannon Snook (whether she was a witness, target, or complainant) for any and all positions held within Somerset County to include Somerset County Sheriff's Office, Somerset County Office of Emergency Management and Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. 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, F Smith
OPRA allows the records custodian to seek extensions of time pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5i. The County anticipates requiring an additional two weeks (until August 4, 2025) to compile, review, and produce the potentially responsive records in accordance with New Jersey law. The County also reserves the right to request an additional extension of time, if necessary. See Scheeler v. New Jersey Department of Educ., GRC Complaint No. 2014-123 (2016).
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Very truly yours,
Kelly Mager - Custodian of Records
20 Grove Street
PO Box 3000
Somerville, New Jersey 08876
(908) 231 - 7030
[Somerset County request email]
Dear F Smith,
The County of Somerset (“County”) records custodian received your Open
Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on 7/10/2025. The seven (7) business
day deadline to respond to your request is 7/21/2025 at 12:00:00 am. As
such, the County is timely responding to your request in accordance with
New Jersey law.
Your OPRA request seeks the following records:
Dear Somerset County, 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: Any and all disciplinary records for K9 Sergeant
Shannon Snook to include any corrective measures considered "non
disciplinary actions" and any/all Internal Affairs records involving Sgt.
Shannon Snook (whether she was a witness, target, or complainant) for any
and all positions held within Somerset County to include Somerset County
Sheriff's Office, Somerset County Office of Emergency Management and
Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. 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, F Smith
OPRA allows the records custodian to seek extensions of time pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5i. The County anticipates requiring an additional two
weeks (until August 4, 2025) to compile, review, and produce the
potentially responsive records in accordance with New Jersey law. The
County also reserves the right to request an additional extension of time,
if necessary. See Scheeler v. New Jersey Department of Educ., GRC
Complaint No. 2014-123 (2016).
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Very truly yours,
Kelly Mager - Custodian of Records
20 Grove Street
PO Box 3000
Somerville, New Jersey 08876
(908) 231 - 7030
[Somerset County request email]
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Attached please find the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office’s response to
your recent OPRA request.
Regards,
Lauren R. Casale
Assistant Prosecutor
Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office
40 North Bridge Street
Somerville, New Jersey 08876
Phone (908) 575-3300
Dear F Smith,
The County of Somerset (“County”) records custodian received your Open Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on 7/10/2025. Somerset County processed a time extension on July 15, 2025. As such, the County is timely responding to your request in accordance with New Jersey law.
Your OPRA request seeks the following records:
Dear Somerset County, 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: Any and all disciplinary records for K9 Sergeant Shannon Snook to include any corrective measures considered "non disciplinary actions" and any/all Internal Affairs records involving Sgt. Shannon Snook (whether she was a witness, target, or complainant) for any and all positions held within Somerset County to include Somerset County Sheriff's Office, Somerset County Office of Emergency Management and Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. 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, F Smith
OPRA allows the records custodian to seek extensions of time pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5i. The County anticipates requiring an additional two weeks (until August 18, 2025) to compile, review, and produce the potentially responsive records in accordance with New Jersey law. The County also reserves the right to request an additional extension of time, if necessary. See Scheeler v. New Jersey Department of Educ., GRC Complaint No. 2014-123 (2016).
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Very truly yours,
Kelly Mager - Custodian of Records
20 Grove Street
PO Box 3000
Somerville, New Jersey 08876
(908) 231 - 7030
[Somerset County request email]
Dear F Smith,
The County of Somerset (“County”) records custodian received your Open
Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on 7/10/2025. Somerset County
processed a time extension on July 15, 2025. As such, the County is timely
responding to your request in accordance with New Jersey law.
Your OPRA request seeks the following records:
Dear Somerset County, 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: Any and all disciplinary records for K9 Sergeant
Shannon Snook to include any corrective measures considered "non
disciplinary actions" and any/all Internal Affairs records involving Sgt.
Shannon Snook (whether she was a witness, target, or complainant) for any
and all positions held within Somerset County to include Somerset County
Sheriff's Office, Somerset County Office of Emergency Management and
Somerset County Prosecutor's Office. 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, F Smith
OPRA allows the records custodian to seek extensions of time pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5i. The County anticipates requiring an additional two
weeks (until August 18, 2025) to compile, review, and produce the
potentially responsive records in accordance with New Jersey law. The
County also reserves the right to request an additional extension of time,
if necessary. See Scheeler v. New Jersey Department of Educ., GRC
Complaint No. 2014-123 (2016).
Thank you for your anticipated cooperation.
Very truly yours,
Kelly Mager - Custodian of Records
20 Grove Street
PO Box 3000
Somerville, New Jersey 08876
(908) 231 - 7030
[Somerset County request email]
[1]JustFOIA Logo
References
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[1]See the source image
RE: Record Request [2]Request Number: PRR-2025-739 - Submitted On:
7/10/2025
Dear F Smith,
The County of Somerset (“County”) records custodian received your Open
Public Records Act (“OPRA”) request on July 11, 2025. On July 15, 2025,
the County obtained an extension of the response deadline until August 4,
2025. On that same date, the County obtained an additional extension of
the response deadline until August 18, 2025. As such, the County is timely
responding to your request in accordance with New Jersey law.
Your OPRA request seeks the following records:
Any and all disciplinary records for K9 Sergeant Shannon Snook to include
any corrective measures considered “non disciplinary actions” and any/all
Internal Affairs records involving Sgt. Shannon Snook (whether she was a
witness, target, or complainant) for any and all positions held within
Somerset County to include Somerset County Sheriff’s Office, Somerset
County Office of Emergency Management and Somerset County Prosecutor’s
Office.
Please be advised that your request is overly broad, as it fails to
identify with reasonable clarity any particular records sought. OPRA
operates to make identifiable government records “readily accessible for
inspection, copying, or examination.” N.J.S.A. § 47:1A-1. See New Jersey
Builders Ass’n v. New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing, 390 N.J.
Super. 166, 178 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 190 N.J. 394 (2007). New
Jersey courts have consistently held that “OPRA does not countenance
open-ended searches of an agency’s files.” See MAG Entertainment, LLC v.
Div. of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 275 N.J. Super. 534, 549 (App. Div.
2005); New Jersey Builders Ass’n v. New Jersey Council on Affordable
Housing, 390 N.J. Super. 166, 178 (App. Div.), certif. denied, 190 N.J.
394 (2007) (holding that it is the requestor’s obligation to specifically
describe the document sought). Consequently, a proper request under OPRA
must identify with reasonable clarity those documents that are desired,
and a party cannot satisfy this requirement by simply requesting all of an
agency’s documents. See Bent v. Twp. of Stafford Police Dep’t, 381 N.J.
Super. 30, 37 (App. Div. 2005). Here, this portion of your request is
clearly deficient as it constitutes a blanket request for any and all
disciplinary/Internal Affairs records involving Sgt. Snook, and purports
to require the County’s records custodian to conduct research in order to
determine which materials would be potentially responsive, which is
clearly beyond the legal obligations of a records custodian under OPRA.
See Parreott v. Asbury Park School District, GRC Complaint Nos. 2016-20 &
2016-39 (2017) (holding that the portion of the request seeking “all
relevant documents” was invalid because it sought a class of various
records and would have required the records custodian to conduct research
in order to locate responsive records); see also Burke v. Ocean Cty., 2013
WL 6169154 (App. Div. 2013) (holding that an OPRA request is not the
equivalent of law suit discovery). Please be advised that the New Jersey
Government Records Council has specifically held that OPRA requests for
employee personnel files are invalid. See Boslet v. Greenwich Twp., GRC
Complaint No. 2012-29 (2013); Kelley v. Rockaway Twp., GRC Complaint No.
2009-19 (2009). Accordingly, your request is invalid as it fails to
comport with OPRA’s specificity requirements.
Notwithstanding the invalidity of your request, to the extent that same
may potentially be construed as seeking specifically identifiable
government records, any responsive materials constitute exempt “personnel
records” within the meaning of N.J.S.A. 47:1A-10, and thus are shielded
from public access accordingly. See McGee v. Twp. of East Amwell
(Hunterdon), 416 N.J. Super. 602 (App. Div. 2010). None of the exceptions
within N.J.S.A. 47:1A-10 that require certain personnel records to be made
available for public access in particular circumstances are applicable to
these records.
Your OPRA request is now deemed answered and closed.
Thank you,
Kelly Mager - Custodian of Records
20 Grove Street
PO Box 3000
Somerville, New Jersey 08876
(908) 231 - 7030
[Somerset County request email]
[3]JustFOIA Logo
References
Visible links
2. https://url4102.request.justfoia.com/ls/...