Grace Ferguson v. Barnstable County Sheriff's Office (SPR 20220753)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records April 14, 2022 SPR22/0753 Sheriff James M. Cummings Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office 6000 Sheriff’s Place Bourne, MA 02532 Dear Sheriff Cummings: I have received the petition of Grace Ferguson of WBUR appealing the nonresponse of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office (Office) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On March 17, 2022, Ms. Ferguson requested copies of “all internal affairs cases of domestic violence and… sexual violence including but not limited to rape and sexual assault concerning sworn officers of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office dating back to January 1, 2010.” Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. Ferguson petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR22/0753, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Office provided Ms. Ferguson with a response dated April 4, 2022. Where the basis of this appeal was opened as a result of the Office’s lack of written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Ms. Ferguson may appeal the substantive nature of the Office’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records cc: Grace Ferguson 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