Joshua Dankoff v. Lawrence, City of - Police Department (SPR 20220413)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records March 3, 2022 SPR22/0413 Officer Eugene Scanlon Lawrence Police Department 90 Lowell Street Lawrence, MA 01840 Dear Officer Scanlon: I have received the petition of Joshua Dankoff, of Citizens for Juvenile Justice (CFJJ), appealing the response of the Lawrence 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 8, 2020, Mr. Dankoff requested 8 categories of records, including the following: Policy request 2. Policies concerning gathering and storing of gang information, including: a. Policies for identifying and labeling gang members or individuals suspected of gang affiliation, b. Policies for maintaining and verifying information contained in any “gang database.” c. Policies for individuals to appeal listing on such a database d. Policies related to the sharing of database information with other local or federal authorities. Data request 6. Data regarding how many people have been identified by your department as gang affiliated, or gang involved. To the extent possible, we request raw data with personal identifying information and addresses redacted to protect privacy. . . . Specifically, we request an extract of your department’s gang member database (or associated list) to include the following columns: . . . Previous appeals This request was the subject of previous appeals. See SPR20/2389 Determination of the 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

Officer Eugene Scanlon SPR22/0413 Page 2 March 3, 2022 Supervisor of Records (December 16, 2020) and SPR21/0868 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (April 20, 2021). In my April 20th determination, I directed the Department to clarify whether it possesses records responsive to Mr. Dankoff’s request. The Department provided a further response on February 2, 2022. Unsatisfied with the Department’s response, Mr. Dankoff petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR22/0413, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department provided a supplemental response on February 24, 2022. Where the basis of this appeal was opened as a result of the Department’s February 2nd response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Dankoff may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s February 24th response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Joshua Dankoff