The source for this text is the non-disclosure agreement between the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI obtained by the ACLU.
U.S. Department of Justice
Federal Bureau of Investigation
June 29, 2012
Scott R. Patronik
Chief
Erie County Sheriff’s Office
10 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
Re: Acquisition of Wireless Collection Equipment/Technology and Non-Disclosure Obligations
LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE (LES): The information in this document is the property of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may be distributed within the federal government (and its contractors), U.S. intelligence, law enforcement, public safety or protection officials and individuals with a need to know. Distribution beyond these entities without FBI Operational Technology Division authorization is prohibited. Precautions should be taken to ensure this information is stored and/or destroyed in a manner that precludes unauthorized access. Information bearing the LES caveat may not be used in legal proceedings without first receiving authorization from the originating agency. Recipients are prohibited from subsequently posting the information marked LES on a website on an unclassified network.
Dear Scott R. Patronik:
We have been advised by Harris Corporation of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office’s request for acquisition of certain wireless collection equipment/technology manufactured by Harris Corporation. Consistent with the conditions on the equipment authorization granted to Harris Corporation by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), state and local law enforcement agencies must coordinate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to complete this non-disclosure agreement prior to the acquisition and use of the equipment/technology authorized by the FCC authorization.
As you are aware, law enforcement agencies increasingly rely on wireless collection equipment/technology to conduct lawfully-authorized electronic surveillance. Disclosing the existence of and the capabilities provided by such equipment/technology to the public would reveal sensitive technological capabilities possessed by the law enforcement community and may allow individuals who are the subject of investigation wherein this equipment/technology is used to employ countermeasures to avoid detection by law enforcement. This would not only potentially endanger the lives and physical safety of law enforcement officers and other individuals, but also adversely impact criminal and national security investigations. That is, disclosure of this information could result in the FBI’s inability to protect the public from terrorism and other criminal activity because, through public disclosures, this technology has been rendered essentially useless for future investigations. In order to ensure that such wireless collection equipment/technology continues to be available for use by the law enforcement community, the equipment/technology and any information related to its functions, operation, and use shall be protected from potential compromise by precluding disclosure of this information to the public in any manner including but not limited to: in press releases, in court documents, during judicial hearings, or during other public forums or proceedings. Accordingly, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office agrees to the following conditions in connection with its acquisition and use of the Harris Corporation equipment/technology:
1. By entering into this agreement, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office affirms that it has statutory authority to lawfully employ this technology and will do so only in support of public safety operations or criminal investigations.
2. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office assumes responsibility for operating the equipment/technology in accordance with federal law and regulation and accepts sole liability for any violations thereof, irrespective of the Federal Bureau of Investigation approval, if any, for the sale of the equipment/technology.
3. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office will ensure that operators of the equipment have met the operator training standards identified by the FBI and are certified to conduct operations.
4. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office will coordinate with the FBI in advance of its use of the wireless collection equipment/technology to ensure de-confliction of respective missions.
5. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office will not distribute, disseminate, or otherwise disclose any information concerning the wireless collection equipment/technology or any software, operating manuals, or related technical documentation (including its technical/engineering descriptions) and capabilities) to the public, including to any non-law enforcement individuals or agencies.
6. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office will not distribute, disseminate, or otherwise disclose any information concerning the wireless collection equipment/technology or any software) operating manuals, or related technical documentation (including its technical/engineering description(s) and capabilities) provided to it to any other law enforcement or government agency without the prior written approval of the FBI. Prior to any approved distribution, dissemination, or comparable disclosure of any information concerning the wireless collection equipment/technology or any software, manuals, or related technical documentation related to such equipment/technology, all materials shall be marked “Law Enforcement Sensitive, For Official Use Only – Not to be Disclosed Outside of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.”
7. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office shall not, in any civil or criminal proceeding, use or provide any information concerning the Harris Corporation wireless collection equipment/technology, its associated software, operating manuals, and any related documentation (including its technical/engineering description(s) and capabilities) beyond the evidentiary results obtained through the use of the equipment/technology including, but not limited to, during pre-trial matters, in search warrants and related affidavits, in discovery, in response to court ordered disclosure, in other affidavits, in grand jury hearings, in the State’s case-in-chief, rebuttal, or on appeal, or in testimony in any phase of civil or criminal trial, without the prior written approval of the FBI. If the Erie County Sheriff’s Office learns that a District Attorney, prosecutor, or a court is considering or intends to use or provide any information concerning the Harris Corporation wireless collection equipment/technology, its associated software, operating manuals, and any related documentation (including its technical/engineering description(s) and capabilities) beyond the evidentiary results obtained through the use of the equipment/technology in a manner that will cause law enforcement sensitive information relating to the technology to be made known to the public, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office will immediately notify the FBI in order to allow sufficient time for the FBI to intervene to protect the equipment/technology and information from disclosure and potential compromise.
Notification shall be directed to the attention of:
Assistant Director
Operational Technology Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Engineering Research Facility
Building 27958A, Pod A
Quantico, Virginia 22135
(703) 985-6100
and
Unit Chief
Tracking Technology Unit
Operational Technology Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Engineering Research Facility
Building 27958A, Pod B
Quantico, Virginia 22135
(703) 985-6840
8. In addition, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office will, at the request of the FBI, seek dismissal of the case in lieu of using or providing, or allowing others to use or provide, any information concerning the Harris Corporation wireless collection equipment/technology, its associated software, operating manuals, and any related documentation (beyond the evidentiary results obtained through the use of the equipment/technology), if using or providing such information would potentially or actually compromise the equipment/technology. This point supposes that the agency has some control or influence over the prosecutorial process. Where such is not the case, or is limited so as to be inconsequential, it is the FBI’s expectation that the law enforcement agency identify the applicable prosecuting agency, or agencies, for inclusion in this agreement.
9. A copy of any court order in any proceeding in which the Erie County Sheriff’s Office is a Party directing disclosure of information concerning the Harris Corporation equipment/technology and any associated software, operating manuals, or related documentation (including its technical/engineering description(s) and capabilities) will immediately be provided to the FBI in order to allow sufficient time for the FBI to intervene to protect the equipment/technology and information from disclosure and potential compromise. Any such court orders shall be directed to the attention of:
Assistant Director
Operational Technology Division
Federal Bureau of investigation
Engineering Research Facility
Building 27958A, Pod A
Quantico, Virginia 22135
(703) 985-6100
and
Unit Chief
Tracking Technology Unit
Operational Technology Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Engineering Research Facility
Building 27958A, Pod B
Quantico, Virginia 22135
(703) 985-6840
10. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office will not publicize its acquisition or use of the Harris Corporation equipment/technology or any of the capabilities afforded by such equipment/technology to the public, other law enforcement agencies, or other government agencies, including, but not limited to, in any news or press releases, interviews, or direct or indirect statements to the media.
11. In the event that the Erie County Sheriff’s Office receives a request pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. ยง 552) or an equivalent state or local law, the civil or criminal discovery process, or other judicial, legislative, or administrative process, to disclose information concerning the Harris Corporation wireless collection equipment/technology, its associated software, operating manuals, and any related documentation (including its technical/engineering description(s) and capabilities), the Erie County Sheriff’s Office will immediately notify the FBI of any such request telephonically and in writing in order to allow sufficient time for the FBI to seek to prevent disclosure through appropriate channels. Notification shall be directed to the attention of:
Assistant Director
Operational Technology Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Engineering Research Facility
Building 27958A, Pod A
Quantico, Virginia 22135
(703) 985-6100
and
Unit Chief
Tracking Technology Unit
Operational Technology Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Engineering Research Facility
Building 27958A, Pod B
Quantico, Virginia 22135
(703) 985-6840
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office’s acceptance of the above conditions shall be evidenced by the signatures below of an authorized representative and wireless collection equipment operators of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office.
Sincerely,
Christopher M. Piehota
Special Agent in Charge
Buffalo Division
Federal Bureau of Investigation