Brian Sweet v. Boston Police Department (SPR 20200912)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records June 23, 2020 SPR20/912 Shawn Williams, Esq. City of Boston Public Records One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Dear Attorney Williams: I have received the petition of Brian Sweet 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). Specifically, Mr. Sweet requested “video footage from the traffic camera located at American Legion Highway and Walk Hill St on May 7, 2020 from 20:30 until 20:45.” Under the Public Records Law and the Access Regulations (Regulations) all requests for public records must be met with a response within 10 business days of receipt of the request. G. L. c. 66, § l0(a)-(b). The response may contain, among other things, an offer to provide records, a fee estimate for provision of the records, or a denial. G. L. c. 66, § l0(b). All records custodians must comply with both the Public Records Law and the Regulations with respect to the timeliness of response. Based on a communication with this office, it is my understanding that the Department intends on providing Mr. Sweet a response to his request for records. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Mr. Sweet with said response in compliance with the Public Records Law and its Regulations as soon as practicable. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Sweet may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Brian Sweet 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