What can be obtained from the Police through open records requests?
Download a Georgia Open records request form template
There are variables to consider when submitting open records, computer systems, software and open records custodians are not the same for all agencies, there is very little consistency. Results will vary widely. Always check their socials to find images of their cops wearing body cams to get an idea where to start, call them, email them. Most agencies have the email on their webpage, they are supposed to if they have an open record custodian and they are also supposed to have one by law!
Government officials work for the public. All of us have a right to know how they have responded in this moment, whether they have been honest in their statements, and whether they are being held accountable. Many jurisdictions have open records laws that allow members of the public to request records — including emails, memos, data files, complaint records, incident reports, and more — of what our government officials are saying and doing on our behalf. These tools will be important for long-term accountability.
Retention laws on interesting documents we can get!!
https://www.georgiaarchives.org/records/local_government/schedules/44/P40
GASC-08-004 | Open Records Act Requests and Correspondence
Description: Inquiries from members of the public requesting access to information under the Georgia Open Records Act. Retention: 3 years.
I will be requesting this file with every request! 🙂 LG-19-073 | Proof of Rabies Vaccination Description: Records documenting rabies vaccination Retention: 3 years from date of issuance Updated: April 05, 2017
LG-19-074 | Radio Dispatch Logs
Description: Records of the first official report of a fire or incident from incoming radio calls Retention: 3 years Updated: April 05,
2017 LG-19-081 | Subpoena Logs, Officer
Description: Documents summons of a public safety officer to appear during a court trial Retention: 3 year after disposition of case Updated: April 05, 2017
LG-19-092 | Internal Investigations
Description: Records used to investigate complaints against public safety officers. Retention: Founded: 20 years after settlement of case; Unfounded: 1 year after investigation completed. Updated: April 27, 2023
LG-19-050 | Incarceration Lists
Description: Daily list of inmates in jail Retention: 1 year Updated: April 05, 2017
LG-19-068A and LG-19-068B | Video Footage from Body Cams/Dash Cams /Drone Cams
Description: Video recordings from law enforcement body-worn devices and devices located on or inside of law enforcement vehicles. Retention: (LG-19-068A) 180 days except (LG-19-068B) if recording is part of a criminal investigation, shows a vehicle accident, shows the detainment or arrest of an individual, or shows a law enforcement officer’s use of force, and then it shall be retained for 30 months.
Updated: October 17, 2017
LG-19-079A and LG-19-079B | Security and Surveillance (Static) Video
Description: Security Video: building or departmental video that monitors activities or traffic of a department or building. Surveillance (Static) Video: digital or analog video recordings and images from agency security systems. This series also includes digital or audio voice recordings of radio or telephone communications.
Retention: (LG-19-079A) Known Incident/Accident: Retain until settlement of claims; (LG-19-079B) No known incident/accident: 30 days. Updated: October 17, 2017
LG-19-059 | Investigation Logs
Description: Chronological listing of investigations Retention: 3 years after release of inmate Updated: April 05, 2017
LG-19-064 | LEDS Warrant Worksheets
Description: Worksheets used to post data to GCIC/NCIC information system Retention: Retain for useful life Updated: April 05, 2017
LG-19-068A and LG-19-068B | Video Footage from Body Cams/Dash Cams /Drone Cams
Description: Video recordings from law enforcement body-worn devices and devices located on or inside of law enforcement vehicles.
Retention: (LG-19-068A) 180 days except (LG-19-068B) if recording is part of a criminal investigation, shows a vehicle accident, shows the detainment or arrest of an individual, or shows a law enforcement officer’s use of force, and then it shall be retained for 30 months.
Updated: October 17, 2017
LG-19-031 | Emergency Dispatch Logs
Description: Record of emergency calls received over radio and logged at time of dispatch
Retention: 3 years
Updated: April 05, 2017
LG-19-033A and LG-19-033B | Evidence and Property Logs and Forms
Description: Documents evidence, property stored for safekeeping, and found property acquired and maintained by the police department
Retention: (LG-19-033A) Evidence log: 3 years after disposition of property; (LG-19-033B) Logs of property not part of court proceeding:1 year after disposition
Updated: April 05, 2017
LG-19-025 | Criminal Investigation Case Files (Capital Felonies)
Description: Investigation of suspected criminal activity in order to arrest and convict the perpetrators; includes incident reports and supplements, documentary evidence, criminal history sheets, affidavits or other written statements, copies of subpoenas, State Crime Laboratory reports, and any other documents relevant to the investigation Retention: 50 years after adjudicated Updated: April 05, 2017
LG-19-028 | Criminal Trespass Notifications
Description: Records advising subjects they are prohibited from entering a given property Retention: Retain for useful life Updated: April 05, 2017
LG-19-026 | Criminal Investigation Case Files, Felony Description: Investigations of felony crimes other than capital offenses Retention: 7 years after adjudicated
LG-19-027 | Criminal Investigation Case Files, Misdemeanors Description: See Criminal Investigation Case Files (Capital Felonies) Retention: 5 years after adjudicated Updated: April 05, 2017
GASC-06-015 | Employee Personnel Files
Description: Records documenting an employee’s work history with the agency, generally maintained as a case file; includes records of continuing education, performance evaluations, and disciplinary actions. Please note: no central agency maintains these records, it is the responsibility of individual agencies to maintain the personnel files of their employees.
Retention: Records documenting service, final leave status, and hire/no hire recommendation: 50 years; Other records: 7 years following separation of employee.
GASC-07-019 | Security Access Records
Description: Logs documenting when and who accessed restricted areas.
Retention: 5 years.
LG-19-081 | Subpoena Logs, Officer
Description: Documents summons of a public safety officer to appear during a court trial
Retention: 3 year after disposition of case
Updated: April 05, 2017
List of all officers terminated This could reveal corruption and additional files can be requested on the officers.
Polygraph exams This is a public record with most agencies, however they are boring and don’t reveal much.
Evidence.com audit trail This is a power request that will give a listing of all body cam available on the AXON servers- AXON only
AXON Body cam audit trail See sample here (Opens in new tab) This is my most powerful request as it lists body cam that is available at the end of the officers shift, if used with the Evidence.com audit trail could create a web they can’t escape from. Just remember to define the dates, I usually get a year and sometimes months. The report should be free or cheap to obtain. It also tells how many segments of body cam are available, useful to calculate redactions, most ORC’s make around $25 an hour. So if there is 1 hour of body cam then it should be about $20 as the first 15 minutes are free for any records request.
AIC – ADMINISTRATIVE AND INVESTIGATIVE NOTICE – Internal complaints against an officer, could be the public and other cops.
Radio com – Request from E-911 service not the sheriff’s office in most cases
911 calls Request from E-911 service not the sheriff’s office in most cases
CAD Sheet – hard all of the details for an incident, names of officers, short narrative, times and dates See sample here
ADULT Arrest report, all arrest made by officer in a time frame Sample here This report will look different and may have a different name for all agencies.
Body cam / dash cam The most popular record to request. Not all agencies use the same body cam brand and some don’t use body cams at all.
Garrity form My favorite record to get, a simple one page document explaining the officers rights with his signature and a date, I then use the date to request the case files, video, audio and case summary, but I just say “Case files” It could be a single PDF doc or a full blown case with many interviews Garrity Form sample
Termination packet – See sample here
Incident report – The officers narrative of what happened with details needed for further requests but the CAD sheet is almost the same.
1st page of all use of force reports , 30 day, 6 months etc.. Only request the first page as these are expensive packets to redact. The first page has the dates and times needed to request the body cam. See Sample here
Disciplinary file also known as the internal affairs file on an officer. Reveals patterns and could lead to other officers to investigate that may be mentioned in the reports. See sample here
Departmental police manual Helps to determine what policies officers have to follow, they will get punished for a wreck, being late for work, missing court, chewing tobacco and failure to activate body cam. These are admin internal policy issues not civil rights, cops have no idea what that word means, in other words they will get fired for missing work but not shooting someone! Here is a sample here
Vehicle activity report GPS Not all agencies have this but it’s worth requesting to see where these cops waste time, go out of bounds and hide. If a cop is stalking someone, this will reveal details of their travels Sample here
Employee listing name, salary and rank – Can be used to identify cops or verify agency. I requested the Georgia DHS employee roster it is HUGE, need to identify a DFCS case worker? here ya go Sample here
Personnel file (complete, including promotions, reprimands, and awards) This could be an expensive redaction, here is one that cost me over $100, this cops file is 20 years long!! Sample here
Training records (including certifications and completion of specific training programs) See sample here This file is obtained through the Georgia POST Council by emailing jdalon@gapost.org
Overtime records
Accident reports (for police vehicle collisions)
Internal memos or interdepartmental communications
Job performance evaluations
Officer commendations
Surveillance footage (from the station or public places under department oversight)
Taser discharge logs
K-9 unit reports (deployment and outcomes)
Property and evidence logs
Jail roster (inmate information)
Pursuit reports
SWAT deployment logs
Open records template for Georgia Download it
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
Records Custodian
[Agency Name]
[Agency Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Re: Georgia Open Records Act Request
Dear [Records Custodian or Agency Name],
Pursuant to the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.), I am requesting access to and/or copies of the following public records:
- [Description of Record 1]
- [Description of Record 2]
- [Description of Record 3]
(Continue listing records as needed)
I request that these records be provided in electronic format, if possible, to the email address provided above. If any of these records are unavailable electronically, please inform me of the method and costs associated with obtaining hard copies.
If any portion of this request is denied or exempt from disclosure, please provide a written explanation, citing the specific legal authority for the denial as required by law. Please also inform me of any fees in advance of fulfilling this request.
I am prepared to pay any reasonable costs associated with producing these records. However, if the estimated fees exceed $[Amount], please notify me before proceeding.
Thank you for your attention to this request. I look forward to your timely response as required by law within three business days.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Website, if applicable]
[Your Organization, if applicable]
Reference links
#PoliceTransparency #OpenRecords #Accountability #LawEnforcementRecords #FOIA #PoliceMisconduct #PublicRecords #BodyCamFootage #DashCamFootage #EvidenceAudit #InternalAffairs #UseOfForce #PoliceReports #TransparencyMatters #JusticeReform #PublicSafety #RightToKnow #PoliceAccountability #InvestigatePolice #ShieldsofShame
Police records, body cam footage, dash cam footage, police transparency, open records, evidence.com audit, internal affairs investigation, law enforcement misconduct, use of force reports, FOIA request, Garrity form, police termination list, public safety, radio communications, 911 calls, administrative investigation, arrest report, disciplinary actions, police policy manual, separation list, employee salary records, vehicle activity report, training records, officer misconduct, departmental audits
Disclaimer: This webpage is not an official government page or an emergency line. It is dedicated to displaying information about police misconduct and naming the agencies involved. The content provided here is for informational purposes only and does not constitute official records or legal advice. In case of an emergency, please contact your local authorities or dial 911. For official information, please refer to the appropriate government or law enforcement websites.
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