Records Request
Dear Jefferson Township,
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-5(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:
1. Police Department Policies: Any and all current standard operating procedures (SOPs), general orders, or written directives governing the performance evaluation process for sworn law enforcement officers.
2. Blank Forms: Copies of the blank templates or forms currently used by the department to conduct and document performance evaluations for officers.
3. Evaluation Criteria: Any written documents, manuals, or guides detailing the specific criteria, metrics, or grading scales used to assess officer performance (e.g., productivity benchmarks, conduct standards, or competency requirements).
4. Training Curricula/Materials: Any and all lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations, handouts, or instructional manuals used to train department supervisors (Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Captains) on the process of conducting Performance Evaluations for subordinate officers from January 2021 through March 2026.
Clarification on Scope:
Please note that I am not requesting any completed evaluations, individual personnel files, or records specific to any named officer. This request is strictly limited to the general policies, procedural frameworks, and blank administrative forms used by the department.
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,
KB
Dear KB:
The Jefferson Township Clerk’s Office received your request (the
“Request”) under the New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1
et seq. (“OPRA”) and Common Law Right of Access on April 13, 2026 as your
email was marked as spam. In your request, you sought access to the
following:
Records requested:
1. Police Department Policies: Any and all current standard operating
procedures (SOPs), general orders, or written directives governing the
performance evaluation process for sworn law enforcement officers.
2. Blank Forms: Copies of the blank templates or forms currently used by
the department to conduct and document performance evaluations for
officers.
3. Evaluation Criteria: Any written documents, manuals, or guides
detailing the specific criteria, metrics, or grading scales used to assess
officer performance (e.g., productivity benchmarks, conduct standards, or
competency requirements).
4. Training Curricula/Materials: Any and all lesson plans, PowerPoint
presentations, handouts, or instructional manuals used to train department
supervisors (Sergeants, Lieutenants, and Captains) on the process of
conducting Performance Evaluations for subordinate officers from January
2021 through March 2026.
Clarification on Scope:
Please note that I am not requesting any completed evaluations, individual
personnel files, or records specific to any named officer. This request is
strictly limited to the general policies, procedural frameworks, and blank
administrative forms used by the department.
Response: Please see attached standard operating procedure
regarding performance evaluations as well as evaluation forms, per your
request. There are no other documents responsive to your request.
Please submit all OPRA (public records) requests through the on-line
portal:
[1]https://jefferson.seamlessdocs.com/f/OPRA
Using the on-line portal is important as:
-it displays confirmation that the request has been submitted
-it sends an email confirmation that the request has been submitted
-it assigns a tracking number to the request
-it sends the request to the appropriate group email account
-it allows the requestor to email (to themselves) a copy of the document
I appreciate your anticipated cooperation in using the on-line portal, as
your email may be marked as spam when using other programs and delay the
Clerk’s Office receipt of the request.
If you have questions about how to use the portal please contact the
Clerk’s Office.
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 Township of Jefferson 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 [2][email address], or
at their web site at [3]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.