Police Women undergo Cavity Searches (Barnstable County Sheriff's Office)

Cynthia Fernandez filed this request with the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office of Barnstable County, MA.
Est. Completion None
Status
No Responsive Documents

Communications

From: Cynthia Fernandez

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, ยง10, I hereby request the following records:

Any and all documents, policies, memos, and complaints concerning female police officers and job-mandated gynecological examinations prior or post-hire.

This is an issue that has been widely reported on: https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/a3eb55/female-recruits-ffirorced-to-undergo-vaginal-exams-by-nebraska-state-patrol-lawsuit-claims

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Cynthia Fernandez

From: Matt Murphy

Cynthia:

The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office does not have any documents responsive to your request regarding gynecological exams. The Sheriff's Office does not have any police officers in its employment, female or male. We do have deputy sheriffs. For any deputy sheriff any medical record would be confidential so we could never provide that under Massachusetts law. But there are no such medical records. We do not require gynecological exams for any female staff. Thus there are no policies either.

You have the right to appeal this response to the Public Records Supervisor at the Secretary of State's Office should you find the response unsatisfactory.

Thank you.

Matt Murphy

[Description: Description: Description: star%20reduced] [Description: Description: Description: MA Seal]
AS Matthew Murphy, Esq.
General Counsel
Barnstable County Sheriff Office
6000 Sheriff Place
Bourne, MA. 02532
mmurphy@bsheriff.net<mailto:mmurphy@bsheriff.net>
Work (508) 563.4311
Fax (508) 563-4574

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