Bodycamera and Patrol Car Surveillance from 1/23/23

Freedom made this OPRA request to Lakewood 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.

Waiting for an internal review by Lakewood Township of their handling of this request.

Dear Lakewood Township,

This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:
Surveillance footage from: Patrol Cars (Lakewood Police Department) and Body Worn Cameras (of officers in the Lakewood Police Department), Involving an incident that transpired on 1/23/23 From approximately 6:20 PM to 7:00 PM Which took Place at 905 Park Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Yours faithfully,
Samuel

2023-0174
Date Received: 1/31/2023
Status: Approved for Data Collection
Applicant: Samuel
Information Requested: This is a request for public records made
under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required
to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this
message.
Records requested:
Surveillance footage from: Patrol Cars (Lakewood Police
Department) and Body Worn Cameras (of officers in the Lakewood
Police Department), Involving an incident that transpired on
1/23/23 From approximately 6:20 PM to 7:00 PM Which took Place at
905 Park Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Response: Township of Lakewood has received your Open Public
Records Act (OPRA) request. The official Records Custodian
received your request today. As such, the Township will respond as
soon as possible but no later than seven (7) business days.

[1]SDL Portal page for OPRA Request
Spatial Data Logic 2021

References

Visible links
1. https://u131632.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click...

2023-0174
Date Received: 1/31/2023
Status: Approved for Data Collection
Applicant: Samuel
B/L/Q: 229/11/
Address:
905 PARK AVENUE
LAKEWOOD LAKEWOOD 08701
Information Requested: This is a request for public records made
under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required
to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this
message.
Records requested:
Surveillance footage from: Patrol Cars (Lakewood Police
Department) and Body Worn Cameras (of officers in the Lakewood
Police Department), Involving an incident that transpired on
1/23/23 From approximately 6:20 PM to 7:00 PM Which took Place at
905 Park Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701

Dear Requestor,

The Township of Lakewood received your Open Public Records Act
(OPRA) request on 1/31/2023. As such, the seven (7) business day
deadline to respond to your request is 2/9/2023. This response to
your request is being provided to you on the 6th business day
after the custodian's receipt of said request.

In accordance with N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60 - Disclosure of juvenile
information, your request is denied.

Assignments
Police Status: Denied
   Action:

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 [insert name of
agency] 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 [email address], or at their
web site at www.state.nj.us/grc. The Council 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.
Spatial Data Logic 2021

Dear [email address],
My request was denied on the basis that "In accordance with N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60 - Disclosure of juvenile
information, your request is denied." This statement is invalid and unlawful based on the following:
A) There is no factual evidence that states that any individual in the footage is a minor, it is merely an unfounded assumption.
Even if there would be a factual basis to believe there are juveniles in the requested footage :
B) The faces and any other identifying features can be blurred or distorted (in the surveillance footage)and provided to me without being in violation N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60
C) The footage requested does not contain any juveniles or that were detained, arrested or that gave a statement to law enforcement. (it was merely an interaction)

Yours sincerely,

Samuel

Township Clerk, Lakewood Township

After consultation with the Township Attorney, it has been determined that juveniles are required to be protected. You are invited to contact the Township Attorney, Steven Secare, directly at 732-349-2800.

Thank you!

show quoted sections

Dear Township Clerk,
As I have stated previously "Even if there would be a factual basis to believe there are juveniles in the requested footage , The faces and any other identifying features can be blurred or distorted (in the surveillance footage) and provided to me without being in violation N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60". (as the identity of the juveniles would not be compromised)

(Additionally if I was the juvenile or the legal guardian of the juvenile in the requested footage what would be the course of action for me to obtain the footage ?)

Yours sincerely,

Freedom

Dear Lakewood Township,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Open Public Records Act reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Lakewood Township's handling of my OPRA request 'Bodycamera and Patrol Car Surveillance from 1/23/23'. OPRA # 2023-0174

[ GIVE DETAILS ABOUT YOUR COMPLAINT HERE ]
The Township of Lakewood can blur and/or distort any identifying features of minors in the video.
Audio that identifies minors may be also be suppressed.
This will make the release of the surveillance footage requested lawful and in accordance with N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-60

A full history of my OPRA request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://opramachine.com/request/bodycame...

Yours faithfully,

Freedom