Joseph G. Bartuah, Jr. v. Bridgewater, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20160614)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Shawn A. Williams Supervisor ofR ecords August 22, 2016 SPR16/614 Chief Christopher D. Delmonte Town of Bridgewater Police Department 220 Pleasant Street Bridgewater, MA 02324 Dear Chief Delmonte: I have received the petition of Joseph Bartuah, Jr. appealing the nonresponse of Bridgewater Police Department (Department) to his request for public records. G. L. c. 66 § lO(b); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Specifically, Mr. Bartuah requested copies of the personnel arrest records and community complaints for two specifically identified officers. Having received no response, Mr. Bartuah petitioned this office. Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulation (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within ten (10) days of the request. G. L. c. 66, § lO(b); 950 C.M.R. 32.05. The response may be an offer to provide records, a fee estimate for provision of the records, or a denial. All records custodians must comply with both the Public Records Law and the Regulations with respect to the timeliness of response. Subsequent to the intervention by a member of my staff, this office was informed that a response would be provided. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Department's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed with the proviso that the response be provided without delay. Mr. Bartuah may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's response within ninety (90) days. ee 950 C.M.R. 32.08(2). Supervisor of Records cc: Mr. Joseph Bartuah, Jr. OneAshburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 · (617) 727-2832 ·Fax (617) 727-5914 www.sec.state.ma. us/pre