John Powell v. Boston, City of - Police Department (SPR 20180152)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S Murray S~pervuorof Records February 14,201 8 SPR181152 Martha J. DiMaio Boston Police Department One Schroeder Plaza Boston, MA 02120 Dear Ms. DiMaio: I have received the petition of John Powell appealing the nonresponse of the Boston Police Department (Department) to a request for public records. G. L,c . 66, $ 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Mr. Powell requested a series of records pertaining to a specifically identified individual. Having received no response, Mr. Powell petitioned this office. Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within ten (10) days of the request. G. L, c. 66, 10(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 the Public Records Division staff, this office was notified that the Department had never received Mr. Powell's original request. However, the Department has indicated that it intends to respond to Mr. Powell's request. Whereas this matter was opened based upon the Department's failure to provide a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Powell may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's response within ninety (90) days. 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: John Powell One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, Massachusetts 02108 (617) 727-2832. Fax: (617) 727-5914 sec.state.ma.us/pre pre@sec.state.ma.us