September 21, 2016

Patrick Mackie
MuckRock
DEPT MR 28209
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
Re:

MPIA request

Dear Mr. Mackie,

You have made a request for public records pursuant to the Maryland Public Information
Act, Annotated Code of Maryland, General Provisions Article, 4-101, et seq, to the Baltimore
Police Department (BPD). You have requested emails concerning Derogatory phrases/ racial
epitaphs.
Request for BPD emails are handled by the Information and Technology Section (I T).
BPD emails are handled separately from the City of Baltimore emails. BPD emails have a
limited retrieval time frame. The I T technicians can retrieve emails for approximately 3 years
then an outside vendor must be hired to retrieve archived emails at a much more substantial cost.
The cost of in-house retrieval is based on the number of email that must be reviewed
before being disclosed. Confidential opinions, deliberations, advice or recommendations from
one governmental employee or official to another for the purpose of assisting the latter official in
the decision-making function may be withheld. In addition, part of an interagency, or intraagency letter or memorandum that would not be available by law to a private party in litigation
can be withheld.
The BPD can run a word, name or phase through the email retention system. The BPD
can run individual email addresses or the entire BPD email system. Once the system identifies
the emails with the word, name or phase each email will have to be review to determine what can
be disclosed and their relevancy.
The average staff time of review e-mails for release is thirty pages reviewed per hour (emails and attachments). Time differs depending on the size or complexity of the e-mails. Once
all disclosable emails are identified the BPD will advise of the actual cost of producing the emails. There is a minimum charge of $50.00 to start the search and downloading of e-mails. If
the costs and terms are agreed upon emails will be reviewed.

It is in petitioners interest to narrow or identify specific persons or email addresses or to

use precise key search words or phrases to limit unnecessary or unwanted emails. If you would
like the BPD to proceed with your request remit a non-refundable deposit of $50.00 along with a
date range, the email addresses, individual names and or key search words or phrases. Nothing
in this response is intended to indicate that any records sought from the BPD exist or to waive
any privileges held by the BPD. You may contest this response by filing a complaint for Judicial
Review in Circuit Court pursuant to GP 4-362.
If you would like start the search and download process remit check or money order in
the amount of $50.00 payable to the Director of Finance; mail the payment to the Baltimore
Police Departments Office Legal Affairs, 100 N Holiday St., Room 100, Baltimore, Md. 21202
Please refer to tracking # MPIA16 606 in any subsequent correspondence in this matter.
Sincerely,
Wayne Brooks
Assistant to Legal Affairs
Baltimore City Police Department
410 396 2395