April 23, 2021Via Electronic Mail
Attn: Gregg Horton
Re: Request for Public Records Received 3/16/2021
Dear Gregg Horton:
The City of Benicia (“City”) is in receipt of your email request seeking:
“Any emails, written communications, documents, contracts, presentations, or other communications between officials from the Benicia Police Department and officials from the company “Flock Safety.”
In your request, you further describe that this request includes:
“Benicia Police Department records of any kind, including electronic records, audiotapes, videotapes, and photographs, as well as letters, emails, facsimiles, telephone messages, voice mail messages and transcripts, notes, and minutes of any meetings. The search should be limited to responsive records created between January 1, 2019 and the day the request is fulfilled.”
This letter shall serve as the City’s further formal written response to your request under the California Public Records Act (Government Code section 6250 et seq.). A copy of your request is enclosed for reference.
The City wishes to cooperate to the fullest extent possible with the Public Records Act. Under established California law, the City is obliged to comply with a request for a public record so long as the requester makes a specific and focused request for information, that information is maintained by the City in its ordinary course of business, the information is disclosable, and the record can be located with reasonable effort. The Public Records Act provides for the inspection or copying of existing identifiable public records; it does not compel the City to create new records, lists, privilege logs, or reports in response to a request.
21-041-000001The City is required to determine whether the request, in whole or in part, seeks copies of disclosable public records. Pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code §§6250 et seq.), such determination must take place within ten (10) days of the City’s receipt of the request, unless the requestor is advised that more time is needed. In my April 9, 2021 letter, I stated that the City had determined that your request seeks disclosable records, and that due to the voluminous size of the response to your request, the City would produce these responsive documents on a rolling schedule, with documents provided by Friday of each week, until all responsive records have been sent.
I am enclosing a copy of the next grouping of responsive files in response to your request.
The next response will be sent on or before next Friday, April 30, 2021.
If you have any questions about this response, or if you would like to discuss ways to narrow your search so that the City can provide more specific records in a quicker fashion, please feel free to contact me directly at jbergstrom@ci.benicia.ca.us or 707- 746-4200.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Bergstrom Deputy City Clerk
cc: Benjamin Stock, City Attorney Erik Upson, City Manager Michael Greene, Police Chief Lisa Wolfe, City Clerk File
21-041-000002From: Jennifer Bergstrom To: Jennifer Bergstrom Subject: FW: California Public Records Act Request: Benicia Police Department: Flock Safety Date: Friday, March 26, 2021 4:41:37 PM
From: 109813-60721929@requests.muckrock.com [mailto:109813-60721929@requests.muckrock.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2021 8:16 PM To: Ben Stock Subject: California Public Records Act Request: Benicia Police Department: Flock Safety
Benicia Police Department PRA Office 200 East L. Street Benicia, CA 94510
March 16, 2021
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the California Public Records Act, I hereby request the following records:
Any emails, written communications, documents, contracts, presentations, or other communications between officials from the Benicia Police Department and officials from the company “Flock Safety.”
We seek Benicia Police Department records of any kind, including electronic records, audiotapes, videotapes, and photographs, as well as letters, emails, facsimiles, telephone messages, voice mail messages and transcripts, notes, and minutes of any meetings. The search should be limited to responsive records created between January 1, 2019 and the day the request is fulfilled.
In the event some portions of the requested records are properly exempt from disclosure, please disclose any reasonably segregable non- exempt portions of the requested records. If it is your position that a document contains non-exempt segments, but that those non-exempt segments are so dispersed throughout the document as to make segregation impossible, please state what portion of the document is non- exempt, and how the material is dispersed throughout the document. If a request is denied in whole, please state specifically that it is not reasonable to segregate portions of the record for release.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Gregg Horton
Filed via MuckRock.com E-mail (Preferred): 109813-60721929@requests.muckrock.com Upload documents directly: https://accounts.muckrock.com/accounts/login/? next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.muckrock.com%2Faccounts%2Flogin%2F%3Fnext%3D%252Faccounts%252Fagency_login%252Fbenicia- police-department-19519%252Fbenicia-police-department-flock-safety- 109813%252F%253Femail%253DHmclaughlin%252540ci.benicia.ca.us&url_auth_token=AABuRYGfg02ZPkwcm_g37CE- ntE%3A1lMMes%3AomjnyEmPsjYo_pU7ynlR8BE-JBA Is this email coming to the wrong contact? Something else wrong? Use the above link to let us know.
For mailed responses, please address (see note): MuckRock News DEPT MR 109813 411A Highland Ave Somerville, MA 02144-2516
PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share, and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed (i.e., with the requester’s name rather than “MuckRock News” and the department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
21-041-000003From: Shammai Terry To: Erik Upson Subject: 30% reduction in service calls with Flock Safety Date: Friday, August 09, 2019 8:45:04 AM
Hi Chief of Police Upson,
New ALPR technology from Flock Safety has helped police agencies across the country reduce crime and increase clearance rates. Here’s what your peers are saying:
“Flock Safety’s technology makes solvability of crime so much easier. We saw a +30% reduction in service calls over the last twelve months where Flock Safety tag readers were installed” - Marietta Police Department
Are you available for a quick demo? I’d like to show you how quickly we can deploy cameras in any hotpsot areas you have. Perhaps Tuesday of next week?
Shammai Terry Territory Sales Manager 818.920.8615 | shammai.terry@flocksafety.com Learn how this neighborhood caught a drive-by shooter - READ THE CASE STUDY HERE 21-041-000004From: Shammai Terry To: Erik Upson Subject: ALPR Cameras in Your Jurisdiction Date: Thursday, August 01, 2019 3:38:58 PM
Hi Chief of Police Upson,
I’m working with police agencies in the California area and wanted to see if new ALPR technology could also help your team get more coverage of your community. Our customers have found that getting more eyes on the street has reduced crime and increased clearance rates, and with Flock they could afford to get many more cameras for their budget.
What makes Flock Safety unique and popular with police agencies across the country, is that we’ve developed new technology to power cameras that has made them much more affordable and accurate than traditional ALPR cameras. Our cameras can read paper license plates, pick up states and identify car color, and are both stationary and mobile.
Are you available for a call? I’d love to share more details and to show you how it works in action.
Thanks,
Shammai Terry Territory Sales Manager 818.920.8615 | shammai.terry@flocksafety.com Learn how this neighborhood caught a drive-by shooter - READ THE CASE STUDY HERE 21-041-000005From: Fwaak Manzoor on behalf of john.anderson@flocksafety.com To: Michael Greene; Edward Criado; Mark Hassler; Mark Menesini Subject: FW: Flock Safety + Benicia Attachments: invite.ics
—–Original Appointment—– From: john.anderson@flocksafety.com <john.anderson@flocksafety.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 12:11 PM To: john.anderson@flocksafety.com; Fwaak Manzoor Subject: Flock Safety + Benicia When: Monday, November 9, 2020 2:00 PM-3:00 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8142387420
You have been invited to the following event.
Flock Safety + Benicia
When
Mon Nov 9, 2020 2pm – 3pm Pacific Time - Los Angeles
Where
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8142387420 (map <https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fj%2F8142387420&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0Mmnri9ZJzhaWSgtVOd5Q3> )
Calendar
fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us <mailto:fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us>
Who
•
john.anderson@flocksafety.com <mailto:john.anderson@flocksafety.com> - organizer
•
fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us <mailto:fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us>
more details » <https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event? action=VIEW&eid=MWRpMmVvYmg0ZGJqZGtyc2lwbjR1MHJmaW4gZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb204ZjY4ZWNlMTA4MTQyMmY5MzNhYTNiZDQ3OTM1MmYxZWZlN2JjM2Vk&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0>
────────── John Anderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8142387420 <https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fj%2F8142387420&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0Mmnri9ZJzhaWSgtVOd5Q3>
Meeting ID: 814 238 7420 One tap mobile +16699009128,,8142387420# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,8142387420# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Meeting ID: 814 238 7420 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbzez5uqgl <https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fu%2Fkbzez5uqgl&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw1JiQYQ6OFnqnc1o73UihhM>
──────────
Going (fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us <mailto:fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us> )? Yes <https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event? action=RESPOND&eid=MWRpMmVvYmg0ZGJqZGtyc2lwbjR1MHJmaW4gZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&rst=1&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb204ZjY4ZWNlMTA4MTQyMmY5MzNhYTNiZDQ3OTM1MmYxZWZlN2JjM2Vk&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0>
- Maybe <https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event? action=RESPOND&eid=MWRpMmVvYmg0ZGJqZGtyc2lwbjR1MHJmaW4gZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&rst=3&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb204ZjY4ZWNlMTA4MTQyMmY5MzNhYTNiZDQ3OTM1MmYxZWZlN2JjM2Vk&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0>
- No <https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event? action=RESPOND&eid=MWRpMmVvYmg0ZGJqZGtyc2lwbjR1MHJmaW4gZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&rst=2&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb204ZjY4ZWNlMTA4MTQyMmY5MzNhYTNiZDQ3OTM1MmYxZWZlN2JjM2Vk&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0> more options » <https://calendar.google.com/calendar/event? action=VIEW&eid=MWRpMmVvYmg0ZGJqZGtyc2lwbjR1MHJmaW4gZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb204ZjY4ZWNlMTA4MTQyMmY5MzNhYTNiZDQ3OTM1MmYxZWZlN2JjM2Vk&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0>
Invitation from Google Calendar <https://calendar.google.com/calendar/>
You are receiving this courtesy email at the account fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us <mailto:fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us> because you are an attendee of this event.
To stop receiving future updates for this event, decline this event. Alternatively you can sign up for a Google account at https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ and control your notification settings for your entire calendar.
Forwarding this invitation could allow any recipient to send a response to the organizer and be added to the guest list, or invite others regardless of their own invitation status, or to modify your RSVP. Learn More <https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/37135#forwarding> .
21-041-000006
From: Fwaak Manzoor on behalf of john.anderson@flocksafety.com To: Mark Hassler; Mark Hassler; Edward Criado; Michael Greene Subject: FW: Updated invitation: Flock Safety + Benicia @ Tue Nov 3, 2020 11am - 11:30am (PST) (fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us) Attachments: invite.ics
—–Original Appointment—– From: john.anderson@flocksafety.com <john.anderson@flocksafety.com> Sent: Monday, November 2, 2020 10:59 AM To: john.anderson@flocksafety.com; Fwaak Manzoor Subject: Updated invitation: Flock Safety + Benicia @ Tue Nov 3, 2020 11am - 11:30am (PST) (fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us) When: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 11:00 AM-12:00 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada). Where: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8142387420
This event has been changed.
Flock Safety + Benicia
When
Changed: Tue Nov 3, 2020 11am – 11:30am Pacific Time - Los Angeles
Where
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8142387420 (map <https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fj%2F8142387420&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0Mmnri9ZJzhaWSgtVOd5Q3> )
Calendar
fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us <mailto:fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us>
Who
•
john.anderson@flocksafety.com <mailto:john.anderson@flocksafety.com> - organizer
•
fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us <mailto:fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us>
more details » <https://www.google.com/calendar/event? action=VIEW&eid=NXIyZ2g3OHFwZmY2cDB2c29kOHNzNzdmZDAgZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb21lZTkxNTEyY2Q1MDEzYTM2MWZiYjEwM2Y4MGMwZGY0YTk3ZWI4ZDBh&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0>
────────── John Anderson is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8142387420 <https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fj%2F8142387420&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0Mmnri9ZJzhaWSgtVOd5Q3>
Meeting ID: 814 238 7420 One tap mobile +16699009128,,8142387420# US (San Jose) +12532158782,,8142387420# US (Tacoma)
Dial by your location +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) Meeting ID: 814 238 7420 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbzez5uqgl <https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fus02web.zoom.us%2Fu%2Fkbzez5uqgl&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw1JiQYQ6OFnqnc1o73UihhM>
──────────
Going (fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us <mailto:fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us> )? Yes <https://www.google.com/calendar/event? action=RESPOND&eid=NXIyZ2g3OHFwZmY2cDB2c29kOHNzNzdmZDAgZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&rst=1&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb21lZTkxNTEyY2Q1MDEzYTM2MWZiYjEwM2Y4MGMwZGY0YTk3ZWI4ZDBh&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0>
- Maybe <https://www.google.com/calendar/event? action=RESPOND&eid=NXIyZ2g3OHFwZmY2cDB2c29kOHNzNzdmZDAgZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&rst=3&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb21lZTkxNTEyY2Q1MDEzYTM2MWZiYjEwM2Y4MGMwZGY0YTk3ZWI4ZDBh&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0>
- No <https://www.google.com/calendar/event? action=RESPOND&eid=NXIyZ2g3OHFwZmY2cDB2c29kOHNzNzdmZDAgZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&rst=2&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb21lZTkxNTEyY2Q1MDEzYTM2MWZiYjEwM2Y4MGMwZGY0YTk3ZWI4ZDBh&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0> more options » <https://www.google.com/calendar/event? action=VIEW&eid=NXIyZ2g3OHFwZmY2cDB2c29kOHNzNzdmZDAgZm1hbnpvb3JAY2kuYmVuaWNpYS5jYS51cw&tok=Mjkjam9obi5hbmRlcnNvbkBmbG9ja3NhZmV0eS5jb21lZTkxNTEyY2Q1MDEzYTM2MWZiYjEwM2Y4MGMwZGY0YTk3ZWI4ZDBh&ctz=America%2FLos_Angeles&hl=en&es=0>
Invitation from Google Calendar <https://www.google.com/calendar/>
You are receiving this courtesy email at the account fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us <mailto:fmanzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us> because you are an attendee of this event.
To stop receiving future updates for this event, decline this event. Alternatively you can sign up for a Google account at https://www.google.com/calendar/ and control your notification settings for your entire calendar.
Forwarding this invitation could allow any recipient to send a response to the organizer and be added to the guest list, or invite others regardless of their own invitation status, or to modify your RSVP. Learn More <https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/37135#forwarding> .
21-041-000007
From: John Anderson To: Fwaak Manzoor; Edward Criado Subject: Re: Flock webinar followup Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 9:03:10 AM
Hello Fwaak and Edward, just following up on this…Are you available to chat with me for a few minutes next week?
At the least, I’d like to work towards getting your agency access to the privately purchased cameras in Benicia (Bay Vista HOA) as well as a ton of cameras that are owned by other nearby agencies like Vallejo and Hercules.
Thanks,
John
John Anderson Territory Account Manager, Northern California Flock Safety 408.652.8530 | john.anderson@flocksafety.com
On Thu, Oct 8, 2020 at 3:39 PM John Anderson <john.anderson@flocksafety.com> wrote: Hello Fwaak and Edward,
Thanks for attending my webinar yesterday morning. I hope hearing from a couple of our clients was beneficial and I really appreciate that you set aside the time to learn about Flock.
Are you interested in scheduling a time to discuss a few of the things that were brought up in the webinar?
We’re already working with an HOA in Benicia (Bay Vista HOA) so I’d like to talk with you about setting up free access to those cameras and our network of PD cameras throughout the region. Vallejo already has 20 and I’m sure a bunch of your crime comes from there so this could be a really good tool for investigations.
Also, if you’re open to it, I’d like to show you the solution and discuss what a Flock deployment in Benicia might look like.
Regardless, there are no strings attached if all you’re interested in is setting up Free access to our network of cameras that are already in the field.
When are you available over the next week or so?
Thanks,
21-041-000008
John
John Anderson Territory Account Manager, Northern California Flock Safety 408.652.8530 | john.anderson@flocksafety.com
21-041-000009
From: John Anderson To: Fwaak Manzoor Cc: Edward Criado Subject: Re: Flock webinar followup Date: Thursday, October 29, 2020 8:08:02 AM
Good morning Fwaak, and good to hear from you.
Yes, I’d be more than happy to talk with you about Flock and our partnership and integration with Axon. This is actually really good timing because we just had another HOA in Benicia sign up for their own cameras as of yesterday, so now there are two communities that have privately purchased cameras (Bridgeview Heights and Bay Vista). I’d like to talk with you about setting your agency up with access to those cameras as well.
The information from our previous deal is somewhat limited. We started the discussions back in November of 2019, and it looks like we were talking about approximately 20 LPR cameras although I do not see a deployment map in our system which means that we hadn’t discussed/finalized specific locations.
It looks like our most recent conversations were around January 2020, and a TON has changed since then. We’ve released a new version of the camera which is about 10x more effective, and it’s able to capture multiple lanes of traffic from a single camera compared to just one lane with the camera we would have discussed with you back in 2019.
We’ve also completely overhauled our Search Portal enabling a TON of new features like searching based on vehicle description (vehicle type, make, color, state detection, paper vs regular plates, more).
Here is some of my availability next week:
Monday any time after 2:00
Tuesday from 11:00 - 2:00 or after 3:00
Wednesday after 2:00
Thursday after 10:00
Do any of these work for you to talk a little about all of this, and I can show you a demo of our latest solution with all of the upgrades?
Thanks,
John
John Anderson Territory Account Manager, Northern California Flock Safety 408.652.8530 | john.anderson@flocksafety.com
On Wed, Oct 28, 2020 at 3:07 PM Fwaak Manzoor <FManzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us> wrote:
21-041-000010
Hi John,
Thank you for reaching out. Yes, we would like to look at flock and possible look at integrating with Axon. There was documentation created by you guys with my predecessor to implement flock just wanted to see if I could get a copy of that information to look at before setting up a time to do a follow up chat.
Thank You,
Fwaak Manzoor
From: John Anderson <john.anderson@flocksafety.com> Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2020 9:03 AM To: Fwaak Manzoor <FManzoor@ci.benicia.ca.us>; Edward Criado <ECriado@ci.benicia.ca.us> Subject: Re: Flock webinar followup
Hello Fwaak and Edward, just following up on this…Are you available to chat with me for a few minutes next week?
At the least, I’d like to work towards getting your agency access to the privately purchased cameras in Benicia (Bay Vista HOA) as well as a ton of cameras that are owned by other nearby agencies like Vallejo and Hercules.
Thanks,
John
John Anderson
Territory Account Manager, Northern California
Flock Safety
408.652.8530 | john.anderson@flocksafety.com
21-041-000011
On Thu, Oct 8, 2020 at 3:39 PM John Anderson <john.anderson@flocksafety.com> wrote:
Hello Fwaak and Edward,
Thanks for attending my webinar yesterday morning. I hope hearing from a couple of our clients was beneficial and I really appreciate that you set aside the time to learn about Flock.
Are you interested in scheduling a time to discuss a few of the things that were brought up in the webinar?
We’re already working with an HOA in Benicia (Bay Vista HOA) so I’d like to talk with you about setting up free access to those cameras and our network of PD cameras throughout the region. Vallejo already has 20 and I’m sure a bunch of your crime comes from there so this could be a really good tool for investigations.
Also, if you’re open to it, I’d like to show you the solution and discuss what a Flock deployment in Benicia might look like.
Regardless, there are no strings attached if all you’re interested in is setting up Free access to our network of cameras that are already in the field.
When are you available over the next week or so?
Thanks,
21-041-000012
John
John Anderson
Territory Account Manager, Northern California
Flock Safety
408.652.8530 | john.anderson@flocksafety.com
21-041-000013