Stevan Johnson v. Boston, City of - Public Records (SPR 20210303)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records February 22, 2021 SPR21/0303 Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records City of Boston 1 City Hall Plaza, Room 615 Boston, MA 02201 Dear Attorney Williams: I have received the petition of Stevan Johnson appealing the nonresponse of the City of Boston (City) to his requests for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 22, 2021, Mr. Johnson requested, “… all records in the possession, custody, and control of the Police Department and/or Law Department of the City of Boston relative to civil action no. … in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, in which [a named] Boston Police Officer … was named as a defendant involving the use of excessive force on [a specific date] February … 2007 …” Claiming to not yet have received a response, Mr. Johnson petitioned this office and SPR21/0303 was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal and communication from a staff member of the Public Records Division, it remains unclear whether the City has provided a response. As such, the City is ordered to provide Mr. Johnson with a written response. Said response shall be made in accordance with the Public Records Law, its Access Regulations and this order within ten business days. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Johnson may appeal the substantive nature of the City’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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

Shawn A. Williams, Esq. SPR21/0303 Page 2 February 22, 2021 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Stevan Johnson