NOTES
Informal Gathering
EDUCATION, OUTREACH AND TRAINING COMMITTEE
Date: Feb. 12, 2009
As there was not a quorum at the Education, Outreach and Training Committee, the members present noted agenda items and heard from a representative of the Police Department.
There was no roll call, minutes or action on any item. The gathering began at 4:15 p.m. and ended at 4:45 p.m. Present were Sue Cauthen and Allyson Washburn.
Lt. Daniel Mahoney of the San Francisco Police Department's Legal Division met with members of the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force's Education, Outreach and Training Committee on February 12, 2009, and answered questions presented by Chair Sue Cauthen, Member Allyson Washburn and DCA Ernie Llorente.
DCA Llorente said the Task Force learned during recent hearings on the 08056_Anonymous v Police Department case that the department did not have a point person to handle Sunshine requests and that led to a process that was not uniform.
Lt. Mahoney said the following to this and other questions:
- Sunshine requests should go to the Legal Division because it knows where certain documents are stored. The division can be reached at 553-1511
- The decision to have a point person would have to be made by the Chief if she wants to do it and would be whomever she recommends that person to be.
- Maureen Conefrey is the current records request person even though her job title is legal secretary. There were plans to hire a new person but those plans disappeared because of the current budget crisis.
- Most Sunshine requests are voluminous Immediate Disclosure Requests that require an extension. A majority of the cases involve journalists working on stories and citizens looking for information for discovery or claim purposes.
- He joined the division in June of 2008 and until May of that year knew nothing about Sunshine. Police officers investigate, arrest and put people in jail. Only a select group of people in the department know about CPRA and Sunshine.
- Captains are now required to read the Ordinance and sign off on it.
- Through the assistance of the California Police Officers Association, he is creating a presentation for police officers on CPRA. From there he plans to use the Task Force's PowerPoint presentation and show San Francisco's specific Sunshine Ordinance requirements. The presentation in its initial stage will be aimed at the captain or a member of the captain's staff at the 10 stations, the public information officers, members of the records division and the Police Commission secretary,
- The committee is welcome to visit the legal division to discuss Sunshine issues.
- His current most pressing issue was compiling the Index of Records for the Department and the Police Commission.
Member Washburn said the push was to train staff who are in contact with the public on a daily basis. She also noted that the conversation with Lt. Mahoney indicates that both parties are about to start off on a very good relationship.
Chair Cauthen and Member Washburn thanked Lt. Mahoney for his update.