Chad Higdon-Topaz v. Williamstown, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20210086)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records January 28, 2021 SPR21/0086 Lt. Michael Ziemba Records Access Officer Williamstown Police Department 31 North Street Williamstown, MA 01267 Dear Lt. Ziemba: I have received the petition of Chad Higdon-Topaz appealing the response of the Williamstown Police Department (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On October 30, 2020, Mr. Higdon-Topaz requested that the following records: • “Full police logs, including arrest logs, incident logs, and any other logs kept by the police department, dated from January 1, 2019 to present. • All detailed police reports, including arrest reports, crime reports, incident reports, and any other categories of police reports kept by the police department, dated from January 1, 2019 to present. I request all reports regardless of whether or not action was taken, whether or not investigation was required, whether or not intervention was required, and regardless of who initiated the report and/or investigation. • All internal affairs records from January 1, 2010 to present.” Prior Appeal The requested records were the subject of a prior determination. See SPR20/2503 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (December 30, 2020). Unsatisfied with the Department’s further response, Mr. Higdon-Topaz appealed and SPR21/0086 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 Mr. Higdon-Topaz. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Mr. Higdon-Topaz with a response to his request in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law and its Access Regulations within 10 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

Lt. Michael Ziemba SPR21/0086 Page 2 January 28. 2021 business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Higdon-Topaz may appeal the substantive nature of the Department's response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, I.. ,''· -.·. ~ - ' Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Chad Higdon-Topaz