Try again clowns

Blueberry Muffin Man made this OPRA request to Hardyston Township Automatic anti-spam measures are in place for this older request. Please let us know if a further response is expected or if you are having trouble responding.

The request was refused by Hardyston Township.

Blueberry Muffin Man
Unknown

Dear Hardyston 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-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:

Body Worn Camera Video & Audio from Derek Michelman from beginning to end of shift 06/15/25
Dashcam Video & Audio from Derek Michelman's patrol vehicle(s) from beginning to end of shift 06/15/25

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,

Blueberry Muffin Man

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Jane Bakalarczyk, Hardyston Township

I will be out of the office from 7/3/25 through 7/11/25 and will respond
to your email upon my return.  If you need immediate assistance, please
call 973-823-7020 to reach the Receptionist. OPRA requests can be emailed
to [email address] in my absence. 

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Jane Bakalarczyk, Hardyston Township

Good Afternoon:

I have forwarded your request to the Hardyston Township Police Dept. and they will respond to you directly.

Jane Bakalarczyk, RMC/CMC/CMR
Municipal Clerk/Registrar
Hardyston Township
149 Wheatsworth Road
Hardyston, NJ 07419
Phone: 973-823-7020 ext 9409
Fax: 973-823-7021
email: [Hardyston Township request email]

-----Original Message-----
From: Blueberry Muffin Man <[OPRA #78171 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 4:23 PM
To: Jane Bakalarczyk <[Hardyston Township request email]>
Subject: OPRA request - Try again clowns

Dear Hardyston 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-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:

Body Worn Camera Video & Audio from Derek Michelman from beginning to end of shift 06/15/25

Dashcam Video & Audio from Derek Michelman's patrol vehicle(s) from beginning to end of shift 06/15/25

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,

Blueberry Muffin Man

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Please deliver records electronically via email to the below UNIQUE address for all replies to this request:

[OPRA #78171 email]

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Police Records, Hardyston Township

Blueberry Muffin Man, 
We have received your OPRA request on July 3, 2025 and assigned it the
number above.  Below is our response provided from our attorney. 
Request #1, for "Body Worn Camera Video & Audio from Derek Michelman from
beginning to end of shift 06/15/25"
 
RESPONSE:  This request is denied on the basis that it is overly broad and
burdensome. A public agency has a statutory responsibility and obligation
to safeguard from public access citizens' personal information when
disclosure thereof would violate citizens' reasonable expectation of
privacy.  Providing a full shift's video & audio footage would require the
Department to completely review the footage to determine whether
privacy-based redactions must be made, which is exceptionally
burdensome. Moreover, providing the video & audio footage from a specific
officer's entire shift certainly can be construed as posing a risk to the
future safety & security of the officer. 
The 'reasonable expectation of privacy' provision is established by
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1; the provision concerning the safety/security of the
officer is established in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1
 
 
Request #2, for "Dashcam Video & Audio from Derek Michelman's patrol
vehicle(s) from beginning to end of shift 06/15/25"
 
RESPONSE:  This request is denied on the basis that it is overly broad and
burdensome.  A public agency has a statutory responsibility and obligation
to safeguard from public access citizens' personal information when
disclosure thereof would violate citizens' reasonable expectation of
privacy.  Providing a full shift's video & audio footage would require the
Department to completely review the footage to determine whether
privacy-based redactions must be made, which is exceptionally burdensome.
Moreover, providing the video & audio footage from a specific officer's
entire shift certainly can be construed as posing a risk to the future
safety & security of the officer. 
The 'reasonable expectation of privacy' provision is established by
N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1; the provision concerning the safety/security of the
officer is established in N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1
Your OPRA request is now deemed answered and closed. If your request for
access to a government record has been denied or unfilled within the
statutory time frame required by law, you have a right to challenge the
denial of 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
[email address], or at their web site at 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.

Jessica Graves

Sr. Clerk/Dispatcher

Hardyston Township Police Department

149 Wheatsworth Road, Suite B

Hardyston, NJ 07419

(P) 973-823-7022

(F)973-823-7034

 

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