Wild, Elizabeth v. Department of State Police (SPR 20260495)

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts William Francis Galvin, Secretary of the Commonwealth Public Records Division Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records February 19, 2026 SPR26/0495 Allison Mondello Records Access Officer Massachusetts Department of State Police 50 Maple Street Milford, MA 01757 Dear Ms. Mondello: I have received the petition of Elizabeth Wild appealing the response 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 January 11, 2026, Ms. Wild requested “[all] video, audio, and related records concerning a traffic stop involving my vehicle that occurred on January 11, 2026, at approximately 10:45 AM, on I-84 eastbound at mile marker 4.6 in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, conducted by [an identified] Massachusetts State Police trooper … This request includes, but is not limited to, the following records:” [1] The full name and rank of the trooper identified as MSP5398[;] [2] The name and rank of the trooper’s immediate supervisor on duty at the time of the stop[;] [3] Any records indicating whether the trooper is listed on a Brady/Giglio disclosure list and any non-exempt disciplinary findings related to credibility, truthfulness, or misconduct[;] [4] All computer-aided dispatch records, RMV queries, CJIS searches, and any other law enforcement database search logs conducted by the trooper between 10:30 AM and 11:00 AM on January 11, 2026[;] [5] All exterior-facing cruiser dash camera footage[;] [6] All interior-facing cruiser camera footage[;] [7] All rear-facing and side-facing cruiser camera footage[;] [8] All body-worn camera video and audio recordings from the trooper[;] [9] All synchronized or associated audio recordings captured inside or outside the cruiser[.] 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

Allison Mondello SPR26/0495 Page 2 February 19, 2026 Please include all responsive footage and recordings beginning at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the initiation of the traffic stop and ending fifteen (15) minutes after the conclusion of the stop. Previous Appeal The requested records were the subject of a previous appeal. See SPR26/0318 Determination of the Supervisor of Records (February 10, 2026). In my February 10th determination, I learned that the Department provided Ms. Wild with a response to her request. The Department responded on February 5, 2026. Unsatisfied with the Department’s response, Ms. Wild petitioned this office and this appeal, SPR26/0495, was opened as a result. The Public Records Law The Public Records Law strongly favors disclosure by creating a presumption that all governmental records are public records. G. L. c. 66, § 10A(d); 950 C.M.R. 32.03(4). “Public records” is broadly defined to include all documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any agency or municipality of the Commonwealth, unless falling within a statutory exemption. G. L. c. 4, § 7(26). It is the burden of the records custodian to demonstrate the application of an exemption in order to withhold a requested record. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(iv); 950 C.M.R. 32.06(3); see also Dist. Attorney for the Norfolk Dist. v. Flatley, 419 Mass. 507, 511 (1995) (custodian has the burden of establishing the applicability of an exemption). To meet the specificity requirement a custodian must not only cite an exemption, but must also state why the exemption applies to the withheld or redacted portion of the responsive record. If there are any fees associated with a response a written, good faith estimate must be provided. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(viii); see also 950 C.M.R. 32.07(2). Once fees are paid, a records custodian must provide the responsive records. The Department’s February 5th Response On February 5, 2026, the Department provided records responsive to Items 1, 2, and 8 of Ms. Wild’s request and stated: We do not track in the citation database the specific offenses that are identified on the citation, beyond speeding, seatbelt violation and car seat violations. In response to your request regarding “All computer-aided dispatch records, RMV queries, CJIS searches, and any other law enforcement database search logs conducted by the trooper between 10:30 AM and 11:00 AM on January 11, 2026,” those records are not maintained by the Massachusetts State Police. Please reach out to the RMV and DCJIS.

Allison Mondello SPR26/0495 Page 3 February 19, 2026 Current Appeal In her appeal petition, Ms. Wild contends: My request expressly sought all responsive video recordings beginning at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the initiation of the traffic stop and ending fifteen (15) minutes following the conclusion of the stop. The videos produced do not encompass this full time range. … Portions of the produced video contain no audio. My request specifically included all synchronized or associated audio recordings captured inside or outside the cruiser. … The Department’s response states that CAD records, RMV queries, CJIS searches, and other law enforcement database logs are not maintained by the Massachusetts State Police and directs me to other agencies. However, the Department has not clarified:  Whether [Department] personnel accessed these systems in connection with the stop;  Which specific agency is the custodian of each category of record; and  Whether any responsive logs exist within [Department] systems reflecting such access. … [The Department] has not confirmed whether any other [Department]-maintained systems contain records reflecting enforcement history or citation data related to G.L. c. 89, § 4B, nor has it affirmatively stated that no such records exist. I am not requesting a pre-built summary or analysis. Rather, I am requesting a raw data export of all citation records associated with Trooper . . . (MSP5398) that include a violation entry for M.G.L. c.89, § 4B[.] Additional Records The duty to comply with requests for records extends to those records that exist and are in the possession, custody, or control of the custodian of records at the time of the request. See G. L. c. 66, § 10(a)(ii). Under the Public Records Law, a public employee is not required to answer questions, or do research, or create documents in response to questions. See 32 Op. Att’y Gen. 157, 165 (May 18, 1977). In accordance with the Public Records Law, custodians are expected to use their superior knowledge of the records in their custody to assist requestors in obtaining the desired information. See 950 C.M.R. 32.04(5). Based on issues raised in Ms. Wild’s appeal, it is unclear whether the Department possesses additional responsive records. Specifically, the Department must clarify whether it possesses “responsive video recordings beginning at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the initiation of the traffic stop and ending fifteen (15) minutes following the conclusion of the

Allison Mondello SPR26/0495 Page 4 February 19, 2026 stop[,]” “all synchronized or associated audio recordings captured inside or outside the cruiser[,]” and “any responsive logs exist within MSP systems[.]” To the extent that additional records exist, I find the Department must provide them in a manner consistent with the Public Records Law or identify an exemption that applies to withhold the records from disclosure. G. L. c. 66, § 10(b). The Department must clarify this matter. Conclusion Accordingly, the Department is ordered to provide Ms. Wild 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. Ms. Wild may further appeal the substantive nature of the Department’s response within ninety (90) days. See 950 C.M.R. 32.08(1). Sincerely, Manza Arthur Supervisor of Records cc: Elizabeth Wild