Investigative Media Alliance v. Southborough, Town of - Police Department (SPR 20231748)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records August 9, 2023 SPR23/1748 Chief Ryan M. Newell Records Access Officer Southborough Police Department 32 Cordaville Road Southborough, MA 01772 Dear Chief Newell: I have received the petition of the Investigative Media Alliance (Alliance) appealing the nonresponse of the Southborough 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 July 6, 2023, the Alliance requested the following records pertaining to a “landlord/tenant dispute” concerning an identified address in the Town of Southborough: [1.] All incident reports and call for service reports for… [an identified address], southborough 01-01-2023 through 07-10-2023…. [2.] Southborough police department policy/procedure regarding any combination of recognizing, enforcing and/or protecting tenant rights…. [3.] Southborough police department policy/procedure regarding discrimination by any officer or authorized agent acting for or on behalf of the department towards any person or property, including but not limited to persons classified by state and/or federal law, regulation or act as belonging to a protected group, class, or subset…. [4.] Southborough police department policy/procedure regarding citizen reporting of officer misconduct, including but not limited to department processing and investigation misconduct complaints…. [5.] Southborough police department policy/procedure regarding special accommodations afforded to a citizen reporting officer misconduct who is classified by state and/or federal law, regulation or act as belonging to a protected group, class, or subset…. Claiming to not yet have received a response, the Alliance petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/1748, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned the Department provided a response to the Alliance on August 9, 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 Ryan M. Newell SPR23/1748 Page 2 August 9, 2023 2023. Where this appeal was opened as a result of the Department’s lack of a written response, I will now consider this administrative appeal closed. The Alliance may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within 90 days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Investigative Media Alliance