Boston Accountability Network v. Boston, City of - Police Department (SPR 20232253)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records October 4, 2023 SPR23/2253 Shawn A. Williams, Esq. Director of Public Records Records Access Officer City of Boston 1 City Hall Square, Room 615 Boston, MA 02201 Dear Attorney Williams: I have received the petition of the Boston Accountability Network appealing the nonresponse of the Boston 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 5, 2023, the requestor sought, “... copies of public records that deal with the [identified] ... traffic stops/violations of [a named] Boston City Councilor . . . These records should include, but not be limited to: body camera footage, citation copies, database searches, as well as any relevant reports filed.” Claiming to not yet have received a response, the requestor petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR23/2253, was opened as a result. Despite being notified of the opening of this appeal, it remains unclear whether the Department has provided a response. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide the requestor with a response to the request, provided in a manner consistent with this order, the Public Records Law and its Regulations within ten (10) business days. A copy of any such response must be provided to this office. It is preferable to send an electronic copy of the response to this office at pre@sec.state.ma.us. The requestor 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: Boston Accountability Network 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