J.C. Hyness v. Boston, City of - Public Records (SPR 20222632)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records November 30, 2022 SPR22/2632; SPR22/2634; SPR22/2635 Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records Record Access Officer City of Boston One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Dear Attorney Williams: I have received the petitions of J.C. Hyness, of Live Boston 617 Inc., appealing the responses of the City of Boston (City) to requests for public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On September 22, 2022, J.C. Hyness requested: The booking photo(s), report(s), and other records associated with the arrest of [an identified person] of South Boston [on August 25, 2022]. Regarding the September 22nd request, the City provided an October 20, 2022 response claiming Exemption (f) to withhold records responsive to the request. On September 29, 2022, J.C. Hyness requested: The primary/arresting officer(s) BWC footage as well as the booking photo(s) [non-juvi], report(s) and other records associated with the arrest of [an identified person] of Dorchester on motor-vehicle violations, and a 14-year-old juvenile male of Dorchester posted [on the bpdnews.com website]. Regarding the September 29th request, the City provided an October 20, 2022 response claiming Exemption (f) to withhold records responsive to the request. On August 9, 2022, J.C. Hyness requested: The booking photo and reports associated with the arrest of [an identified person] 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

Shawn A. Williams, Esq. SPR22/2632; SPR22/2634; Page 2 SPR22/2635 November 30, 2022 of Dorchester [and posted on the bpdnews.com website]. Regarding the August 9th request, the City provided a response on October 20, 2022, claiming Exemption (f) to withhold responsive records. Unsatisfied with the City’s October 20th responses, J.C. Hyness petitioned this office and these appeals, SPR22/2632, SPR22/2634, and SPR22/2635, were opened as a result. Please note, SPR22/2632 pertains to J.C. Hyness’ September 22nd request; SPR22/2634 pertains to J.C. Hyness’ September 29th request; and, SPR22/2635 pertains to J.C. Hyness’ August 9th request. 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 agency or municipality 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(b)(iv); 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3); see 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). To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the responsive record. The City’s October 20, 2022 responses In its October 20th responses, the City cited Exemption (f) to withhold the responsive records due to an on-going investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office (SCDAO). Exemption (f) Exemption (f) permits the withholding of: investigatory materials necessarily compiled out of the public view by law enforcement or other investigatory officials the disclosure of which materials would probably so prejudice the possibility of effective law enforcement that such disclosure would not be in the public interest. G. L. c. 4, § 7 (26)(f). A custodian of records generally must demonstrate a prejudice to investigative efforts in order to withhold requested records. Information relating to an ongoing investigation may be

Shawn A. Williams, Esq. SPR22/2632; SPR22/2634; Page 3 SPR22/2635 November 30, 2022 withheld if disclosure could alert suspects to the activities of investigative officials. Confidential investigative techniques may also be withheld indefinitely if disclosure is deemed to be prejudicial to future law enforcement activities. Bougas v. Chief of Police of Lexington, 371 Mass. 59, 62 (1976). Redactions may be appropriate where they serve to preserve the anonymity of voluntary witnesses. Antell v. Att’y Gen., 52 Mass. App. Ct. 244, 248 (2001); Reinstein v. Police Comm’r of Boston, 378 Mass. 281, 290 n.18 (1979). Exemption (f) invites a “case-by case consideration” of whether disclosure ‘would probably so prejudice the possibility of effective law enforcement that such disclosure would not be in the public interest.” See Reinstein, 378 Mass. at 289-290. In its responses, the City asserted, “[t]he prosecutors assigned to this case and the SCDAO stated that the release of BWC at this time would be harmful to an open investigation they are currently conducting. As such, this request is denied at this time under the investigatory exemption to the public records law.” Based on the City’s response, it is unclear what type of records it possesses that it withheld from disclosure. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(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 . . .”). Therefore, the City must identify the type of records it has in its possession that it is withholding under Exemption (f) and pertaining to J.C. Hyness’ August 9th, September 22nd and September 29th requests. Further, although the City claims it has an open investigation regarding the requested records, it is unclear how the records in their entirety can be withheld under Exemption (f). It is unclear from the City’s response whether the records contain confidential investigative techniques that would be prejudicial to the ongoing investigation if disclosed. The City did not demonstrate how disclosure of any portion of the responsive records “would probably so prejudice the possibility of effective law enforcement that such disclosure would not be in the public interest[,]” as required under Exemption (f). See Reinstein, 378 Mass. at 289-90 (the statutory exemptions are narrowly construed and are not blanket in nature). Any non-exempt, segregable portion of a public record is subject to mandatory disclosure. G. L. c. 66, § 10(a). Conclusion Accordingly, the City is ordered to provide J.C. Hyness with a response to the requests, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of this response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us.

Shawn A. Williams, Esq. SPR22/2632; SPR22/2634; Page 4 SPR22/2635 November 30, 2022 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: J.C. Hyness