Nate Jones v. Reading, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20210301)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records February 17, 2021 SPR21/0301 Lieutenant Detective Richard P. Abate Criminal Division Commander Reading Police Department 15 Union Street Reading, MA 01867 Dear Lieutenant Detective Abate: I have received the petition of Nate Jones of The Washington Post appealing the response of the Reading Police Department (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On December 30, 2021, Mr. Jones requested records related to a specified police shooting. The Department responded on January 6, 2021, indicating they are withholding responsive records pursuant to Exemption (a) of the Public Records Law. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26)(a). Unsatisfied with the Department’s response, Mr. Jones petitioned this office, and SPR21/0301 was opened as a result. Subsequent to the opening of this appeal, the Department provided a supplemental response on February 16, 2021. Whereas the basis of this appeal was opened as a result of the Department’s January 6th response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Jones may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s February 16th response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Nate Jones 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