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MuckRock News v. Dracut, Town of (SPR 20202140)
Massachusetts Public Records Appeal · Petitioner won — agency ordered to respond · Filed 11-04-2020
ClosedAppealPetitioner Won
SPR 20202140 is a Massachusetts Public Records Law appeal filed by MuckRock News concerning records held by Dracut, Town of, opened 11-04-2020. Type: Appeal. Status: Closed. Supervisor of Public Records determination: Petitioner won — agency ordered to respond.
Case Details
- Case Number
- 20202140
- Case Type
- Appeal
- Case Subtype
- Initial
- Status
- Closed
- Requester
- MuckRock News
- Custodian
- Dracut, Town of
- Date Opened
- 11-04-2020
- Date Closed
- 11-18-2020
- Date Request Submitted
- 08-17-2020
- Response Provided Date
- 10-07-2020
- Petitions Regarding Fees
- No
- Went to Court
- No
PDF Document
Extracted Text (searchable & copyable)
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records November 18, 2020 SPR20/2140 Deputy Chief David J. Chatrand Deputy Chief of Police Dracut Police Department 110 Loon Hill Road Dracut, MA 01826 Dear Deputy Chief Chatrand: I have received the petition from MuckRock News appealing the response of the Dracut Police Department (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. On August 17, 2020, Muck Rock News requested, “… any and all records relating to internal affairs complaints against the Department between January 1, 2005 – August 17, 2020, this information shall include but not limited to the following: 1. Police Officer's Full Legal Name (including Given/First Name and Last/Surname); 2. Rank; 3. Badge Number; 4. Date of IAD complaint; 5. IAD Complaint # (sometimes referred to as the Complaint Control Form #); 6. IAD Case # (this is the number assigned to the IAD investigation file); 7. Nature of Charges against the Officer; 8. Results of the IAD investigation; and 9. IAD Complaint Disposition Date.” The Department responded on November 3, 2020. Unsatisfied with the Department’s response, MuckRock News appealed and SP20/2140 was opened as a result. Based upon a conversation between a Public Records Division staff attorney and a Department representative, it is my understanding that the Department intends on providing a subsequent response to MuckRock News to address its concerns. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide MuckRock News with a response to its request in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Access Regulations within 10 business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at 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 Deputy Chief David J. Chatrand SPR20/2140 Page 2 November 18, 2020 pre@sec.state.ma.us. MuckRock News may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: MuckRock News