Jeff Raymond v. Hinsdale, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20231071)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records May 31, 2023 SPR23/1071 Susan Rathbun Chief of Police Hinsdale Police Department 39 South Street Hinsdale, MA 01235 Dear Chief Rathbun: I have received the petition of Jeff Raymond, of the Bramanville Tribune, appealing the response of the Hinsdale Police Department (Department) to his request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, §10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On April 15, 2023, Mr. Raymond requested “any responsive documents and/or communications concerning your municipality’s police department and its compliance with the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission’s duties under Chapter 253 of the Acts of 2020 to create a ‘database listing complaints against police officers,’ as detailed below.” Specifically, Mr. Raymond requested: [1.] A copy of the document your police department sent to the POST Commission, likely sent between November 2021 and June of 2022, providing the information requested by the POST Commission for its “database listing complaints against police officers” planned for May of 2022…. [2.] Copies of any relevant responsive communications between a) your police department and/or your town officials and b) the POST Commission in regard to the database planned for May of 2022 as detailed above and/or compliance with the reporting for said database between the dates of July 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022, broadly construed…. [3.] Copies of any relevant responsive communications within or between a) your police department and b) your municipal administration in regard to this database and/or compliance with this mandate between the dates of July 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022, broadly construed…. [4.] Information concerning “complaints against police officers” issued in 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

Chief Susan Rathbun SPR23/1071 Page 2 May 31, 2023 calendar year 2022 and through March 31, 2023, preferably in the same format used for the information sent to POST between November 2021 and June of 2022 for the earlier-mentioned database…. [5.] A copy of the document your police department sent to the POST Commission as sent to the POST Commission, likely sent between December 1, 2022 and April 9, 2023, to comply with the “2023 POST Commission Disciplinary Records Resubmission”…. [6.] Copies of any relevant responsive communications within or between a) your police department and b) your municipal administration in regard to this database and/or compliance with the “2023 POST Commission Disciplinary Records Resubmission” described above. The Department responded on April 16, 2023. Unsatisfied with the response, Mr. Raymond petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/1071, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department responded to Mr. Raymond’s request with a further response sent on May 22, 2023. Where the basis of this appeal was opened as a result of the Department’s April 16th response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Raymond may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s May 22nd response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Jeff Raymond