Martin, Jr., Richard v. Suffolk County Sheriff's Department (SPR 20150444)

The Commonwealth ofMassachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor of& cords August 13,2015 SPRlS/444 Mr. Russell Holmsey, Esq. Suffolk County Sheriffs Department 132 Portland Street Boston, MA 02114 Dear Attorney Holmsey: I have received the petition of Richard Martin appealing the nonresponse of the Suffolk County Sheriffs Department (Department) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § 10(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Martin requested all fees for the services of the Department as well as the names, titles and email addresses for all members of the Department. Despite our letter to you dated June 12, 2015 acknowledging the opening ofthis appeal, as well as follow-up messages from a member of my staff, no response was provided to this request. The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10 (c ); 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4 ). "Public records" is broadly defined to include all documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any town of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26). It is the burden of the records custodian to demonstrate the application of an exemption in order to withhold a requested record. G. L. c. 66, § 10 ( c); see also District Attorney for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). Accordingly, whereas the Department has not overcome the presumption that the requested records are public, the Department is hereby ordered, within ten (1 0) days of this order, to provide Mr. Martin with the requested records. If the Department maintains that any portion of the responsive records are exempt from disclosure it must, within ten (10) days provide to Mr. Martin a written explanation, with specificity, how a particular exemption applies to each record. To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/ pre

Mr. Russell Holmsey, Esq. SPR15/444 Page Two August 13,2015 responsive record. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. If there are any fees associated with this response a written, good faith estimate must be provided. G. L. c. 66, § 1O (a); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.06(2) (where cost of complying with a request for public records is expected to exceed ten dollars ($10.00), custodian of records shall provide written good faith estimate). Once the fees are paid, you must provide the responsive records. v u urs, I \I I n A. illiams Supervisor of Records cc: Mr. Richard Martin