Alisha Patel v. Gardner, City of- Police Department (SPR 20240913)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records March 27, 2024 SPR24/0913 Nicholas Maroni Deputy Chief Gardner Police Department 200 Main Street Gardner, MA 01440 Dear Deputy Chief Maroni: I have received the petition of Alisha Patel, on behalf of Attorney Katherine Stathulis, of the Center for Public Interest, Advocacy, and Collaboration, appealing the nonresponse of the Gardner 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 January 11, 2024, Ms. Patel requested: [1.] An extract of your records management system or database that includes each school-related arrest and each referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022 school year (up until the day the records are produced). Specifically, we request an extract of the database to include the following [identified] columns… [2.] If such an extract of the database in question 1 is not possible, please provide school incident reports on each school-related arrest and referral to law enforcement conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021- 2022 school year (up until the day the records are produced). [3.] A copy of any active standard operating procedures developed with the police department and/or other law enforcement agencies regarding police placement or activity in your corresponding school; [4.] Any records instructing or informing police personnel of, or otherwise describing data reporting requirements and procedures for complying with G.L. c. 71 § 37P(b). [5.] The cost to the school district of assigning a school resource officer to each school; 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

Deputy Chief Nicholas Maroni SPR24/0913 Page 2 March 27, 2024 [6.] The total number of school resource officers and total number of guidance counselors for each school in your district for school years 2018-2019, 2019- 2020, 2020-2021[;] [7.] The total number and a brief description of 911 calls from schools in your district to local police departments conducted during the 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022[; and] [8.] A description of the proposed budget for mental, social, or emotional health support personnel for the school district. Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. Patel petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/0913, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned the Department intends on providing a written response to Ms. Patel. Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Ms. Patel with a response in accordance with the Public Records Law, its Regulations and this order within ten 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. Ms. Patel may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Alisha Patel