Jeff Raymond v. Seekonk, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20231206)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records June 16, 2022 SPR23/1206 Elaijah St. Germain Confidential Administrative Assistant Seekonk Police Department 500 Taunton Avenue Seekonk, MA 02771 Dear Ms. St. Germain: I have received the petition of Jeff Raymond, of the Bramanville Tribune, appealing the response of the Seekonk 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 May 25, 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 calendar year 2022 and through March 31, 2023, preferably in the same format 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

Elaijah St. Germain SPR23/1206 Page 2 June 16, 2023 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. On May 29, 2023, the Department responded providing responsive records. Unsatisfied with the Department’s response, Mr. Raymond petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/1206, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department provided Mr. Raymond with a further response dated June 14, 2023. Where this appeal was opened as a result of the Department’s May 29th response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. Mr. Raymond may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s June 14th response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1) Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Jeff Raymond