Wheeler Cowperthwaite v. Whitman, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20211211)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records May 27, 2021 SPR21/1211 Melissa Madden Records Clerk Whitman Police Department 20 Essex Street Whitman, MA 02382 Dear Ms. Madden: I have received the petition of Wheeler Cowperthwaite appealing the response of the Whitman Police Department (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On January 27, 2021, Mr. Cowperthwaite requested “[t]he settlement agreement…in the federal case 20-cv-11992 (Edward Slocum v Town of Whitman).” Prior appeal The responsive records were the subject of a prior appeal. See SPR21/0338 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (February 24, 2021). The Department provided a response on February 19, 2021. Unsatisfied with the response, Mr. Cowperthwaite appealed and SPR21/1211 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. Cowperthwaite to address his concerns. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Mr. Cowperthwaite with a response to his 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 pre@sec.state.ma.us. Mr. Cowperthwaite may appeal the substantive nature of the Department'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

Melissa Madden SPR21/1211 Page 2 May 27, 2021 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Wheeler Cowperthwaite