Merritt Schnipper v. Department of State Police (SPR 20241900)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records July 3, 2024 SPR24/1900 Allison Mondello Public Records Manager Massachusetts Department of State Police 470 Worcester Road Framingham MA, 01702 Dear Ms. Mondello: I have received the petition of Attorney Merritt Schnipper, of Schnipper Hennessy PC, appealing the nonresponse of the Department of State Police (Department) to a request for public records. See G. L. c. 66, § 10A; see also 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). On June 12, 2024, Attorney Schnipper requested, “all records related to the present location and chain of custody of Items #1-2.3.1 and #1-2.41 collected in State Police Crime Laboratory Case #17-18198. These items are swabs from the blade and handle of a knife collected at a crime scene at 42 Green Street in Brockton.” Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Attorney Schnipper petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR24/1900, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department provided Attorney Schnipper with a response on July 2, 2024. 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. Attorney Schnipper may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s July 2nd response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Attorney Merritt Schnipper 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