Fredericks

— This petition presents novel issues of law regarding a request made under the California Public Records Act (Gov. Code, § 6250 et seq.; CPRA) for disclosure of “information” found in “complaints or requests for assistance” that were received by a local law enforcement agency, over a specified time period (§ 6254, subd. (f)(2)). We also address questions about the allowable copying and ancillary costs to be charged for inspection, review, or production of such information. (§§ 6253, subds. (a), (b), 6253.9, subd. (b).)

Petitioner Farhad Fredericks made a CPRA request to defendants and real parties in interest, the City of San Diego and the San Diego Police Department (the Department), for all “complaints and/or requests for assistance” made to the Department during a six-month period (180 days) pertaining to burglary and identity theft. (Pen. Code, §§ 459, 530.) In response to the request, the Department notified Fredericks that its investigation reports (“Incident History Reports”) are exempt from disclosure under the CPRA, but it would provide him with redacted, summarized information in its relevant “Calls for Service” reports (e.g., deletion of names of victims),…