Request For Internal Affairs File information
Dear Hudson County Prosecutor's Office,
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:
Please provide the internal affairs records of the the following Undersheriff's of the Hudson County Sheriff's Department, Andrew Conti, Francine Shelton, Ramon Vasquez. Pursuant to the NJ Attorney General Internal Affairs Policy and Procedures, please provide a Summary and Conclusions Report for each if applicable. If the records will not be provided under opra, then I will request them under common law pursuant to Rivera v. Union County Prosecutor’s Office (A-58-20/084867) (Decided March 14, 2022).
Traditionally the files would be located at the agency itself, but I was referred to you by the sheriffs department, as you are in possession of the undersheriffs files.
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,
Moshe Bendlestein
Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has received your OPRA Common Law Common Law Interagency OPRA-Common Law records request via email dated 4/7/2025, received on 4/8/2025. It will be reviewed and a response will be provided as required by law.
Keith M. Bendul
KEITH M. BENDUL
LEGAL ANALYST
HUDSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
595 NEWARK AVENUE
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07306
T: (201) 795-6400 EXT. 6502
Email: [email address]
OPRA Request Email: [HCPO request email]
Clarification Needed & Information for Balancing Analysis
Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office previously acknowledged receipt of your OPRA-Common Law request with an original deadline of 4/17/2025. During a check of the request via email, it was noted that you are seeking document(s) specifically Item 1 “the internal affairs records” for specific individuals while serving as Undersheriffs. Be advised that HCPO does not have a document by that name. Please clarify if HCPO’s understanding is incorrect. Please clarify by describing the document(s) sought by providing more details.
No clarification is needed for Item #2 “Summary and Conclusion Report”.
Information & Standing Under Common Law
If you would like HCPO to consider other information into the Common Law balancing analysis, please provide that information establishing your individual need for the document(s) requested.
If seeking documents based on an individual standing under the Common Law please provide proof of identity (copy of current state driver’s license, a valid US Passport, or another valid Real ID) directly to HCPO. An email address alone does not suffice as they can be spoofed using software on the Internet.
Reply Needed
Until a clarification is received our review and response cannot be made.
Please respond before 4/16/2025 otherwise this request will be closed requiring you to submit a new request if you still want to receive records.
Upon receipt of the clarification, HCPO will then review and a response will be provided as required by law.
Should you have any questions, please contact the undersigned.
Keith M. Bendul
Thank you for your response and for acknowledging the deadline of April 17, 2025.
To clarify Item #1 of my request:
When I referenced “internal affairs records,” I am seeking any documents related to internal investigations, disciplinary actions, or complaints—whether sustained or not—involving [insert full names of the individuals] during their time serving as Undersheriffs.
If HCPO does not maintain such documents under the term “internal affairs records,” please advise if they exist under a different name or if another agency holds them (e.g., the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office).
Regarding the Common Law aspect of my request:
I am requesting these records to promote transparency and accountability in public service, particularly concerning individuals who have held positions of authority in law enforcement. This request is made in good faith and in the public interest.
I will provide proof of identity as requested under separate cover for the purposes of the balancing test.
Please let me know if you require any additional information or clarification.
Sincerely,
Yours sincerely,
Moshe Bendlestein
HCPO has received your reply. Your clarification of "any documents related to internal investigations, disciplinary actions, or complaints—whether sustained or not—involving [insert full names of the individuals] during their time serving as Undersheriffs" does not clearly identify the records sought.
Unless directed otherwise, HCPO will process this request under OPRA & the Common Law for (1) Internal Affairs Investigation Report or (2) the Internal Affairs Summary & Conclusion Report for investigations of the three named individuals as Undersheriffs.
A response will be provided as required by law. The new deadline is April 24, 2025, seven business days from the date the clarification was received.
Thank you,
Keith M. Bendul
KEITH M. BENDUL
LEGAL ANALYST
HUDSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
595 NEWARK AVENUE
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07306
T: (201) 795-6400 EXT. 6502
Email: [email address]
OPRA Request Email: [HCPO request email]
HCPO has not received a reply or acknowledged our understanding of your clarification. Additionally, despite your email below, HCPO has not received the additional information you wish us to consider as part of the Common Law individualized standing balancing test.
Please reply before 4/23/2025 if you are supplementing the information already possessed by HCPO at this time.
Please reply before 4/23/2025 if HCPO is to proceed as indicated in the April 14, 2025 email.
The new deadline for HCPO's response will now be April 28, 2025.
Thank you,
Keith M. Bendul
KEITH M. BENDUL
LEGAL ANALYST
HUDSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
595 NEWARK AVENUE
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07306
T: (201) 795-6400 EXT. 6502
Email: [email address]
OPRA Request Email: [HCPO request email]
Moshe Bendlestein,
Attached please find the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office response to
your above request.
Should you have any questions, please contact the undersigned.
Thank you,
Keith M. Bendul
[1]cid:image001.png@01DABCC6.A01E2E90
KEITH M. BENDUL
LEGAL ANALYST
HUDSON COUNTY PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
595 NEWARK AVENUE
JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY 07306
T: (201) 795-6400 EXT. 6502
Email: [email address]
OPRA Request Email: [HCPO request email]
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