Laura H. Ortiz v. Fall River, City of - Police Department (SPR 20250242)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records January 30, 2025 SPR25/0242 Lieutenant Matthew Mendes Fall River Police Department 685 Pleasant Street Fall River, MA 02721-4305 Dear Lieutenant Mendes: I have received the petition of Laura Ortiz appealing the nonresponse of the Fall River 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 2, 2025, Ms. Ortiz requested the following: 1. Copy of any records related to the complaint made to Fall River Police Department regarding the “Police: Monkey Bar Incident May Be Misunderstanding” incident that was alleged to have occurred on Columbus Day October 9, 2023 at Hancock Park in Fall River or any follow up investigation including: complaints, witness statements, body cam footage or other[;] 2. Copy of any records related to any statements given to news media by Fall River Police Department as referenced in “Police: Monkey Bar Incident May Be Misunderstanding” or to any other news agency that referenced the incident that was alleged to have occurred on Columbus Day October 9, 2023 at Hancock Park in Fall River as well as any notices to the media or general public that the Fall River Police Department was holding any press conferences regarding this incident[.] Claiming to not yet have received responsive records, Ms. Ortiz petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR25/0242, was opened as a result. Subsequently, I learned that the Department provided Ms. Ortiz with a response on January 29, 2025. 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. Ms. Ortiz may appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s January 29th response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). 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

Lieutenant Matthew Mendes SPR25/0242 Page 2 January 30, 2025 Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Laura Ortiz