FOIA Process for SLMPD Policies

The Manuals and Special Orders that make up the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s policies were obtained by the following FOIA request:

December 7, 2017

To Ms. Cathy Smentkowski:

This is a request for records under the Missouri Sunshine Law, Chapter 610, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

In accord with the Missouri Sunshine Law, the following documents are being requested:

All Police Manuals and Special Orders that comprise the entirety of the policies and guidelines currently in effect for the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Because the information will be made public and is in the public interest, I am requesting that all fees for research and copying be waived. If this request is not granted, I request you notify me of any of the approximate costs exceeding $25 before filing the request. If possible, please provide the documents in electronic format.

Thank you very much.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The response of the SLMPD:

Mr. Weeks,

Per our Legal Division-

The City of St. Louis Police Division (“PD”) acknowledges receipt of your Sunshine Law request which you submitted to Cathy Smetkowski on December 7, 2017. It is estimated that it will take three (3) hours of PD Staff time to locate the requested records. This will be done at the hourly rate of $15.00 ($45.00 total). The records will be placed on a disk and provided to you after payment.

If you are interested in proceeding with your request, please provide payment for $45.00, payable to the “City of St. Louis” and send to the following address:

City of St. Louis Police Division 1915 Olive Street, Room 773 St. Louis, MO 63103

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The initial FOIA submitted to the Police Department, which was deemed too burdensome to complete is below:

December 1, 2017

To Police Commissioner:

This is a request for records under the Missouri Sunshine Law, Chapter 610, Revised Statutes of Missouri.

In accord with the Missouri Sunshine Law, the following documents are being requested:

All Police Manuals and Special Orders that comprise the entirety of the policies and guidelines currently in effect for the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department and any amendments, repeals, or replacements made to these policies and guidelines. This request includes Police Manuals, Special Orders related to police policy and guidelines that have been issued by the Office of the Police Commissioner as well as any other entity, and any other document pertaining to police conduct and procedures currently in effect.

Thank you very much.

cc: Custodian of Records, Cathy Smentkowski