Video Request (Bodycam or Dashcam)
Dear Newark City,
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:
Pursuant to the Open Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
This is a request for DASHCAM and BWC video for the first two squads on scene and any subsequent BWC video related to the arrest of the primary suspect in this matter. (As a formality, this request is being made under open records statutes governing this data.)
Title of case: Ex-cop gets 5 years for killing man in drunk driving crash, trying to cover it up
State and City: Essex County, New Jersey
Link of Articles: https://www.nj.com/news/2023/08/ex-cop-g...
Description: Louis A. Santiago, a former Newark Police officer, struck and killed 29-year-old Damian Dymka while driving drunk on the shoulder of the Garden State Parkway. Santiago attempted to cover up the crime by failing to report the crash, moving the body, and conspiring with family members before eventually returning to the scene.
Police Department: Newark Police Department
If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me prior to fulfilling the request if the cost will exceed $30. However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees, as the disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of law enforcement encounters and use of force incidents.
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,
Francesco Papa
Good Afternoon:
This arrest and subsequent events occurred in Bloomfield on the Garden
State Parkway. Therefore, the City of Newark did not make, maintain, or
keep on file the records you have requested. Either the Essex County
Prosecutor's Office, which prosecuted this matter, the State of New
Jersey, or Bloomfield municipality would have the records you requested.
Samora F. Noguera
OPRA Attorney for the Office of the Clerk of the City of Newark
Room 415A
City Hall of the City of Newark
920 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Office: 973-733-5354
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From: Francesco Papa
<[OPRA #72461 email]>
Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2025 6:20 PM
To: Noguera, Samora <[Newark City request email]>
Subject: OPRA request - Video Request (Bodycam or Dashcam)
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not
click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know
the content is safe.
Dear Newark City,
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:
Pursuant to the Open Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
This is a request for DASHCAM and BWC video for the first two squads on
scene and any subsequent BWC video related to the arrest of the primary
suspect in this matter. (As a formality, this request is being made under
open records statutes governing this data.)
Title of case: Ex-cop gets 5 years for killing man in drunk driving
crash, trying to cover it up
State and City: Essex County, New Jersey
Link of Articles:
[1]https://www.nj.com/news/2023/08/ex-cop-g...
Description: Louis A. Santiago, a former Newark Police officer, struck
and killed 29-year-old Damian Dymka while driving drunk on the shoulder of
the Garden State Parkway. Santiago attempted to cover up the crime by
failing to report the crash, moving the body, and conspiring with family
members before eventually returning to the scene.
Police Department: Newark Police Department
If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please
inform me prior to fulfilling the request if the cost will exceed $30.
However, I would also like to request a waiver of all fees, as the
disclosure of the requested information is in the public interest and will
contribute significantly to the public’s understanding of law enforcement
encounters and use of force incidents.
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,
Francesco Papa
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