Seattle PD’s slow responses to public records requests persist, with big backlog.

The Seattle Police Division’s gradual responses to public data requests persist, with the company now taking months — typically longer — to show over data that would shine a light-weight on its inner-workings.

Sure, however: An SPD spokesperson instructed Axios the division’s responses have improved since final yr — down from a mean of 87 days to 79 days to shut requests.

Why it issues: Washington’s Public Information Act requires authorities businesses present “immediate responses” to data requests below the legislation that ensures residents “don’t give their public servants the precise to determine what is nice for the individuals to know and what’s not good for them to know.”

State of play: SPD’s public data portal nonetheless greets requesters with a boilerplate discover citing Gov. Jay Inslee’s since-rescinded pandemic emergency order, warning potential requesters of the potential for a “slower than anticipated response.”

The newest: As of final Thursday, SPD stated it acquired 7,667 requests this yr and closed out 5,765 of them, leaving a present backlog of greater than 2,800 open requests.

What they’re saying: “We predict there’s a severe, systemic drawback within the metropolis of Seattle by way of its transparency,” Michael Fancher, president of the Washington Coalition for Open Authorities, instructed Axios.

The opposite facet: “We might like to be sooner and extra responsive (to requesters) … however that simply has not been within the playing cards based on funds,” SPD spokesperson Detective Valerie Carson instructed Axios.

• SPD receives greater than half of all data requests submitted citywide, per the mayor’s workplace.
• The quantity mixed with new complexities — together with a number of new digital knowledge sources holding data — requires extra time and experience to answer seemingly easy requests, Carson stated.

Zoom out: SPD acquired funding so as to add 4 public disclosure officers and one technical assist worker since final yr, bringing the variety of staff dedicated to data requests to 18, Carson stated.

• A proposal to fund one other tech employee dedicated to electronic mail searches wasn’t authorized final yr, nonetheless.

👋 Lewis right here: Since I joined Axios in March, SPD has but to offer a single doc in response to any of 5 data requests I’ve submitted. That features a request for a two-page electronic mail made in Might.

• I additionally had a number of excellent requests with SPD — together with a number of nonetheless open after greater than a yr — after I left The Seattle Occasions.

Context: This drawback will not be new.

Final yr, SPD — which owns the most important funds of any metropolis division at $363 million — cited workers and funding shortages for rampant delays because it warned that requests might take 6–12 months to meet.

Background: SPD’s laggardness in responding to requests persists at a time when a number of key points face the division — from widespread scrutiny of funds practices and ongoing police reforms, to a looming determination for hiring a everlasting police chief.

In the meantime, council member Lisa Herbold, who instructed Axios she has pushed to extend SPD staffing for dealing with requests, stated she’s “hopeful and keen” to work with Mayor Bruce Harrell to make sure the extra staffer dedicated to electronic mail searches is included in his forthcoming funds plan.

• A spokesperson for Harrell’s workplace instructed Axios in an electronic mail town now spends greater than $14 million and employs 70+ staff in over 38 metropolis departments to deal with the 15,000–16,000 requests acquired yearly.
• Harrell “helps continued efforts to enhance SPD achievement instances,” the spokesperson added.