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Wahl, Scott
Walsh, Lynn (NBCUniversal)
Wahl, Scott
RE: SDPD, Zimmerman comments, CPRA
Friday, January 27, 2017 2:06:59 PM

Lynn,
 
You’ve asked me to comment on some abbreviated notes you’ve obtained from one of our
command meetings last July.
 
Those notes reflect messages that Chief Zimmerman delivers frequently: 
 
1) Do not put sensitive law-enforcement information in emails that we open to public disclosure.
 
2) Routinely remove from your cell phones any texts that are not mission-essential, as they slow
down communication and impede rapid responses.
 
Both messages are examples of good leadership as practiced throughout the public and private
sectors.
 
With respect to text messages:  Our ability to quickly find mission-essential information is hindered
by the presence of non-essential texts in the same string. It is proper to text with a co-worker about
lunch orders, to use one example, but old lunch texts are cell-phone clutter that impedes our ability
to respond quickly to urgent conditions.
 
Leading a large and complex organization requires a focus on records management practices that
follow the law and advance our core mission of protecting and serving our community.
 
Thanks,
 
Scott
 
 

Scott M Wahl
Lieutenant
Public Information Officer
Media Services Unit
San Diego Police Department
619-531-2675
 

  
~ A world-class city for all ~
 
“Working in partnership with all of our communities to achieve safe and livable neighborhoods.”
 
 
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From: Walsh, Lynn (NBCUniversal) [mailto:Lynn.walsh@nbcuni.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 11:55 AM
To: Wahl, Scott
Cc: Walsh, Lynn (NBCUniversal)
Subject: SDPD, Zimmerman comments, CPRA
 
Hi Scott,
 
Hope all is well.
 
We obtained a document from an “Ops” meeting in July. It looks like notes from the meeting. In the
notes, Zimmerman is quoted as saying, “Reminder that CPRA’s come in for emails-think about what
you are emailing, consider deleting text messages everyday.”
 
We would like to speak to you or Chief Zimmerman about this. Is she telling officers to delete text
messages to avoid the CPRA? Wouldn’t this go against policies in place to keep information archived
or intact so the public has the ability to request it and has access to it?
 
I have attached a screen shot of the document. Please feel free to call me with any questions or
concerns. I will also be following up with a phone call to you and Zimmerman later today.
 
 
 
 
 
Lynn Walsh
Executive Producer, NBC 7 Investigates
o 619.578.0578   c 614.579.7937
9680 Granite Ridge Drive, San Diego CA 92123