OPRA: Purchase invoice of body worn cameras for the police department
Dear Oxford 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. Total number of body cameras currently deployed in the police department.
2. Date on which body cameras were deployed to any of the police officers for the first time (year and month).
3. Invoice of body cameras purchase (if body cameras were purchased).
Yours faithfully,
Kim
Taeho Kim,
I have received your OPRA Request and have forwarded it to the Washington Township Police Dept. Oxford Township does not have their Police Dept., we have a shared service with Washington Township Police Department, Warren County. I will forward any information that I receive directly to you.
Sheila L. Oberly, RMC, CMR
11 Green Street
Oxford, NJ 07863
(908) 453-3098 Ex. 201
Fax:(908) 453-3787
Dear Taeho Kim,
As you know, I am the Custodian of Records for Oxford Township, and I wanted to follow up on my prior communication to you with respect to the OPRA requests I have received from you.
Specifically, on May 27th I received your OPRA requests which are dated May 26th and May 27th and seeking the following: Purchase Invoice of Body Worn Cameras for the Police Department and Purchase Order History for the Police Department from 2012 to 2019.
Typically, and keeping in mind that Oxford does not have a police department and that I have to contact and wait for a response from a different municipality (Washington Township), I will make every effort to immediately turn this type of records request around.
However, as you may be aware, pursuant to Executive Order, Governor Phil Murphy declared that a Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency exists in the State of New Jersey as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak which is a contagious, and at times fatal, respiratory disease. In order to protect the health and safety of residents and employees, Oxford has limited access to the municipal building, to essential personnel and its operating with reduced staff, as is Washington Township. As a result, responding to OPRA requests at this time may disrupt municipal operations. N.J.S.A.47:1A-5(g). Therefore, ten (10) business days are required to begin the process to respond to your OPRA requests. Moreover, the New Jersey Legislature passed Bill No. A3849 on March 19, 2020, which amends OPRA to permit records custodians to extend the OPRA deadline in times of emergency. Please be advised that your consent is not required for this extension but I ask that you acknowledge this correspondence and provide your consent.
Oxford Township will endeavor to timely respond to your request and records will be provided as soon as possible but hopefully by no later than June 5, 2020.
If you disagree with me about any of the foregoing, please immediately let me know so we can discuss and resolve the issue. If I require an extension beyond the above date, I will reach out to you before it passes and discuss the reasons why an extension is needed as well as the length of additional time I require in order to respond.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at your convenience.
Thank you.
Sheila L. Oberly, RMC, CMR
11 Green Street
Oxford, NJ 07863
(908) 453-3098 Ex. 201
Fax:(908) 453-3787
Good Morning -
Please be advised that this department does not utilize Body Worn
Carmeras.
If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you
Adele M. Snyder, Secretary
Washington Township Police Department
211 Route 31 North
Washington, NJ 07882
(908)689-1630
Taeho Kim,
As per your OPRA Request for Body Worn Cameras, and the response from the
Washington Police Department, to you via e-mail (See Below) no records
exists. Since the Police Department does not wear body cameras, I believe
this OPRA Request is now closed. If you disagree or need any additional
information, which I can provide to you, please contact me. If I hear
nothing from you, I will know that you agree with this decision. Have a
Nice Day.
Sheila L. Oberly, RMC, CMR
11 Green Street
Oxford, NJ 07863
(908) 453-3098 Ex. 201
Fax:(908) 453-3787
From: cortelessi wtpd.net <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 6:39 AM
To: [OPRA #11416 email]
Cc: Sheila Oberly <[Oxford Township request email]>
Subject: Body Worn Cameras
Good Morning -
Please be advised that this department does not utilize Body Worn
Carmeras.
If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you
Adele M. Snyder, Secretary
Washington Township Police Department
211 Route 31 North
Washington, NJ 07882
(908)689-1630