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Home My WebLink AboutPRR26121 Wells - Officer involved shooting (Incident #260118068)Date: March 16, 2026 To: San Luis Obispo Police Department Records Unit 1042 Walnut Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 From: Karson Wells KSBY News (805) 441-0942 Re: California Public Records Act Request – Officer-Involved Shooting of Willie Felton Foster Jr. (Incident #260228068) Dear Records Custodian: Pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code §§ 6250 et seq.), and specifically California Government Code Section 7923.600 et seq. (SB 1421/SB 16), I am requesting access to and copies of public records related to the officer-involved shooting that occurred on February 28, 2026, at approximately 4:54 p.m. at the intersection of Poinsettia Street and Bluebell Way in San Luis Obispo, resulting in the death of Willie Felton Foster Jr. (Incident #260228068). According to your department's media release dated February 28, 2026, officers responded to multiple 911 calls between 4:44 p.m. and 4:53 p.m. reporting a man threatening callers and acting erratically with what appeared to be a firearm. Officers arrived at 4:54 p.m., and the first arriving officer fired a single rifle shot that struck Mr. Foster, who was confirmed deceased at 5:06 p.m. The weapon was later determined not to be a real firearm. I understand that some footage has been released, but would like to request additional unreleased footage. REQUESTED RECORDS: I. Audio and Video Records 1. All body-worn camera footage from all officers who responded to or were present at the scene, including but not limited to footage from the officer who discharged their weapon. 2. All dashboard camera footage from all patrol vehicles that responded to or were present at the scene. 3. All 911 audio recordings of the five emergency calls received between 4:44 p.m. and 4:53 p.m. on February 28, 2026, regarding this incident. 4. All dispatch audio recordings related to this incident, including initial dispatch, officer communications, and requests for emergency medical services. 5. Any additional video footage not yet released beyond the in-car video already made publicly available, including any footage from subsequent arriving officers or supervisors. II. Incident Reports and Documentation 6. The complete incident report(s) for Incident #260228068, including all supplemental reports, narratives, and attachments. 7. All use of force reports completed in connection with this incident, including any required reviews or approvals by supervisory personnel. 8. All officer statements taken in connection with this incident, including statements from the officer who discharged their weapon and any other officers present at the scene. 9. All witness statements taken in connection with this incident, including statements from the five 911 callers and any other witnesses. 10. The coroner's report or autopsy report for Willie Felton Foster Jr., including cause and manner of death determination. 11. All evidence logs and chain of custody records related to this incident, including documentation regarding the weapon recovered at the scene. 12. All photographs taken at the scene, including photographs of the weapon, the scene layout, and any other evidence collected. 13. Any crime scene diagrams, sketches, or maps created in connection with this incident. 14. All emergency medical services records related to the response and treatment of Willie Felton Foster Jr., including CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) records showing the request for EMS at 4:54 p.m. and their arrival time. III. Officer Records (SB 1421/SB 16) 15. All records related to the discharge of a firearm by the officer involved in this incident, as required by California Government Code Section 7923.600 et seq. 16. Personnel records of the officer(s) who discharged their weapon, including: ● Training records related to use of force, de-escalation, crisis intervention, and distinguishing real firearms from replicas ● Any prior use of force incidents ● Any prior complaints or disciplinary actions related to use of force ● Hiring and background investigation records 17. Any internal affairs investigations related to this incident, including any findings, recommendations, or disciplinary actions. IV. Policies, Procedures, and Training 18. Current use of force policies in effect on February 28, 2026, including policies regarding: ● Deadly force authorization ● Threat assessment procedures ● De-escalation requirements ● Encounters with individuals experiencing mental health crises ● Encounters with individuals armed with replica or toy weapons 19. Training materials and curricula related to: ● Use of force decision-making ● De-escalation techniques ● Crisis intervention ● Identifying replica, toy, or fake firearms ● Responding to calls involving potentially mentally ill individuals 20. Any after-action reviews, debriefings, or lessons-learned analyses conducted in connection with this incident. V. Communications and Notifications 21. All internal communications (emails, text messages, memos) among department personnel regarding this incident, including communications with command staff and the Chief of Police. 22. All communications with the California Department of Justice regarding their investigation of this incident. 23. All communications with the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's office regarding this incident. 24. Records documenting notification of Willie Felton Foster Jr.'s next of kin. 25. All media releases and public statements issued by the department regarding this incident (beyond the February 28, 2026 release already provided). VI. Additional Records 26. Any prior police contacts or reports involving Willie Felton Foster Jr. in San Luis Obispo, including CAD records, incident reports, or field interview cards. 27. Any records regarding the weapon recovered at the scene, including manufacturer information, photographs showing how it could be distinguished from a real firearm, and any analysis conducted. 28. Records of any critical incident stress debriefings or peer support services provided to officers involved in this incident. REQUEST FOR FEE WAIVER I request a waiver of all fees associated with this request pursuant to Government Code Section 6253(d). This request is made for journalistic purposes, and the records sought will be used to inform the public about a matter of significant public interest—specifically, the use of deadly force by law enforcement officers and the circumstances surrounding the death of Willie Felton Foster Jr. The public has a substantial interest in understanding: ● How officers assess threats when responding to calls involving potentially armed individuals ● Whether de-escalation techniques were employed or considered ● The training officers receive to distinguish real firearms from replicas ● The decision-making process that led to the use of deadly force against a 69-year-old transient ● Whether department policies and procedures were followed Disclosure of these records will contribute significantly to public understanding of law enforcement operations and accountability. Any fees associated with this request would impose an unreasonable burden on my ability to gather and disseminate newsworthy information to the public. REQUEST FOR EXPEDITED PROCESSING I request expedited processing of this request. This incident occurred on February 28, 2026, and involves the death of a community member at the hands of law enforcement. There is an urgent need to inform the public about the circumstances of this incident, and any delay in processing this request would compromise the timeliness and newsworthiness of the information. ELECTRONIC PRODUCTION PREFERRED I request that all responsive records be provided in electronic format (PDF, audio files, video files) via email or file transfer service to reduce costs and expedite delivery. CONTACT INFORMATION Please contact me at [your phone number] or [your email address] if you have any questions about this request or need clarification regarding any items. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS Please be advised: ● California Government Code Section 6253(c) requires a response within 10 days of receipt of this request. ● California Government Code Section 7923.625 requires release of audio and video records within 45 days of the incident (by April 14, 2026), though your department has already begun releasing some video. ● If any records are withheld, please provide a written response citing the specific legal authority for each exemption claimed. ● If records are maintained in electronic format, they must be produced in electronic format upon request (Gov. Code § 6253.9). I look forward to your timely response to this request. Sincerely, Karson Wells San Luis Obispo Community Reporter KSBY News (805)441-0942