Robert Hohler v. Danvers, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20211556)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records July 2, 2021 SPR21/1556 Philip Tansey Captain of Administrative Services Danvers Police Department 120 Ash Street Danvers, MA 01923 Dear Acting Chief Tansey: I have received the petition of Robert Hohler of the Boston Globe appealing the response of the Town of Danvers Police Department (Department) to a request for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On April 12, 2021, Mr. Hohler requested a “… copy of a report on the investigation the Danvers Police conducted in 2020 that included looking at those complaints about the 2019-20 Danvers High School boys varsity hockey team [including] … copies of any incident reports or other DPD documents or communications that refer to the boys hockey team.” Previous appeal This request was the subject of a previous appeal. See SPR21/1271 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (June 3, 2021). The Department responded on June 11, 2021, Unsatisfied with the Department’s response, Mr. Hohler appealed, and SPR21/1556 was opened as a result. The Public Records Law The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A(d); 950 C.M.R. 32.03(4). “Public records” is broadly defined to include all documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any town of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26). It is the burden of the records custodian to demonstrate the application of an exemption in order to withhold a requested record. G. L. c. 66, § 10(d)(iv) (written response must “identify any records, categories of records or portions of records that the agency or municipality intends to withhold, and provide the specific reasons for such withholding, including the specific exemption or exemptions upon which the withholding is based…”); 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3); see 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

Captain Philip Tansey SPR21/1556 Page 2 July 2, 2021 also Dist. Attorney for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). The Department’s June 11th response In its June 11th response, the Department cited Exemptions (c) and (f) of the Public Records Law to withhold or redact the responsive records. In the Department’s April 26th response, the Department additionally cited Exemption (a) to withhold or redact the responsive records. In camera inspection In order to facilitate a determination as to the applicability of the Department’s claims to withhold the records in their entirety, the Department must provide this office with the un- redacted copy of the responsive records for in camera inspection. After I complete my review of the documents, I will return the records to your custody and issue an opinion on the public or exempt nature of the record. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4). The authority to require the submission of records for an in camera inspection emanates from the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4); see also G.L. c. 66, § 1. This office interprets the in camera inspection process to be analogous to that utilized by the judicial system. See Rock v. Massachusetts Comm'n Against Discrimination, 384 Mass. 198, 206 (1981) (administrative agency entitled deference in the interpretation of its own regulations). Records are not voluntarily submitted, but rather are submitted pursuant to an order by this office that an in camera inspection is necessary to make a proper finding. Records are submitted for the limited purpose of review. This office is not the custodian of records examined in camera, therefore, any request made to this office for records being reviewed in camera will be denied. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(4)(c). This office has a long history of cooperation with governmental agencies with respect to in camera inspection. Custodians submit copies of the relevant records to this office upon a promise of confidentiality. This office does not release records reviewed in camera to anyone under any circumstances. Upon a determination of the public record status, records reviewed in camera are promptly returned to the custodian. To operate in any other fashion would seriously impede our ability to function and would certainly affect our credibility within the legal community. Please be aware, any cover letter submitted to accompany the relevant records may be subject to disclosure. Order Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide this office with an un-redacted copy of the responsive records for in camera inspection without delay.

Captain Philip Tansey SPR21/1556 Page 3 July 2, 2021 Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Robert Hohler