Grace Ferguson v. Brookline, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20220916)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Rebecca S. Murray Supervisor of Records May 3, 2022 SPR22/0916 Amanda Williams Records Access Officer Brookline Police Department 350 Washington Street Brookline, MA 02445 Dear Ms. Williams: I have received the petition of Grace Ferguson of WBUR appealing the nonresponse of the Brookline Police Department (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On February 28, 2022, Ms. Ferguson requested the following records concerning sworn officers of the Department dating back to January 1, 2010: [1] All internal affairs cases of domestic violence[;] [2] All internal affairs cases of sexual violence, including but not limited to rape and sexual assault. Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. Ferguson petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR22/0916, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the Department has provided a response. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Ms. Ferguson with a response to her request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Access Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. Ms. Ferguson may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’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