OPRA - police officer-involved lawsuits 2012-2019
Dear Stone Harbor 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.
Records requested:
1. A list of all lawsuits and cases in which any officer of the police department was involved between 2012 and 2019. For each lawsuit/case, please provide the date (month and year) of the alleged incident at issue, whether the alleged incident was excessive force, settlement amount (if any), and final compensation amount ruled (if any).
2. Please provide copies of the complaint in any lawsuits and cases described in above.
Yours faithfully,
UC Research
Taeho Kim,
Your request has been received.
Please be advised that due to the COVID-19 Outbreak Borough Facilities are closed to the public and staffing is limited to Essential Employees at this time. Your request may take longer than usual to fulfill, please be patient and your request will be satisfied.
On March 20, 2020, Governor Murphy signed a series of coronavirus-related bills into law. Among them was A3849, which modifies the deadline by which public agencies must respond to an OPRA request during an emergency. Under normal circumstances, a public agency must respond to an OPRA request as soon as possible and no later than seven business days from the date of the request. The amendment provides that:
During a period declared pursuant to the laws of this State as a state of emergency, public health emergency, or state of local disaster emergency, the deadlines by which to respond to a request for, or grant or deny access to, a government record under paragraph (1) of this subsection or subsection e. of this section shall not apply, provided, however, that the custodian of a government record shall make a reasonable effort, as the circumstances permit, to respond to a request for access to a government record within seven business days or as soon as possible thereafter.
Thank your in advance for your anticipated cooperation and patience.
Be well.
Maureen Jackson
Administrative Assistant
Stone Harbor Police Department
9508 Second Avenue
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
(609) 368-1455 phone
(609) 368-1430 fax
UC Research,
Your request has been received.
Please be advised that due to the COVID-19 Outbreak Borough Facilities are closed to the public and staffing is limited to Essential Employees at this time. Your request may take longer than usual to fulfill, please be patient and your request will be satisfied.
On March 20, 2020, Governor Murphy signed a series of coronavirus-related bills into law. Among them was A3849, which modifies the deadline by which public agencies must respond to an OPRA request during an emergency. Under normal circumstances, a public agency must respond to an OPRA request as soon as possible and no later than seven business days from the date of the request. The amendment provides that:
During a period declared pursuant to the laws of this State as a state of emergency, public health emergency, or state of local disaster emergency, the deadlines by which to respond to a request for, or grant or deny access to, a government record under paragraph (1) of this subsection or subsection e. of this section shall not apply, provided, however, that the custodian of a government record shall make a reasonable effort, as the circumstances permit, to respond to a request for access to a government record within seven business days or as soon as possible thereafter.
Thank your in advance for your anticipated cooperation and patience.
Be well.
Maureen Jackson
Administrative Assistant
Stone Harbor Police Department
9508 Second Avenue
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
(609) 368-1455 phone
(609) 368-1430 fax
The files have been located however we would need an additional two weeks to review.
Once complete, we will forward.
Thank you.
Carrie Bosacco, CMR
Deputy Clerk
Borough of Stone Harbor
9508 Second Avenue
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
Phone 609-368-6800
Fax 609-368-2619
In response to your OPRA request below dated 5/28/20,
The first part of your request for a list of Police Officer involved lawsuits 2012-2019 is denied. The Police Department does not maintain such a list or store one electronically.
The second part of your request for copies of complaints in police officer involved lawsuits, at this time, your request requires an additional fourteen days (14) to review, and if appropriate, provide the documents to fulfill your request. As you know, OPRA allows custodians to seek extensions of the time pursuant to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5(i). In addition, the statute has recently been amended to provide that the normal deadlines shall not apply, provided however, that the custodian of a governmental record shall make a reasonable effort, as the circumstances permit, to respond to a request for access to a governmental record within seven (7) business days or as soon as possible thereafter. Be advised that we are making a reasonable effort, as the circumstances permit, to review and respond to your request, which includes an extension of time as needed.
Thank you,
Maureen Jackson
Administrative Assistant
Stone Harbor Police Department
9508 Second Avenue
Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
(609) 368-1455 phone
(609) 368-1430 fax