Keith Eddings v. Newburyport, City of - Police Department (SPR 20230910)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records May 11, 2023 SPR23/0910 Lieutenant Richard J. Siemasko, Esq. Records Access Officer Newburyport Police Department 4 Green Street Newburyport, MA 01950 Dear Lieutenant Siemasko: I have received the petition of Keith Eddings appealing the nonresponse of the Newburyport 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 March 30, 2023, Mr. Eddings requested “…copies of videos recorded by a body camera carried by [named officer] involving a complaint by [named individual] on February 27, 2023…” Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Mr. Eddings petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/0910, was opened as a result. In a May 5th communication, the Department states “…he [Mr. Eddings] has filed a second appeal that is currently being investigated. He simply added body cam footage to an incident that he had asked for a copy of a police report that [the Department] had denied.” In light of the Department’s May 5th communication, it remains unclear whether the Department has provided a response to Mr. Eddings’ March 30th request. As such, the Department is ordered to provide Mr. Eddings with a response to his 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. Mr. Eddings may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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

Lt. Richard J. Siemasko, Esq. SPR23/0910 Page 2 May 11, 2023 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Keith Eddings