Israel trip funding approval (Boston Police Department)

Dear Matthew Petti
Thank you for your interest in public records of Boston Police Department. Your request has been received and is being processed. Your request was received in this office on 5/30/2022 10:43:58 PM and given the reference number B001439-053022 for tracking purposes.
If this is a media request, please contact the Office of Media Relations directly at 617.343.4520.
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

All documents sufficient to show when Homeland Security Grant Program funds were used to pay for travel to or training in Israel during the calendar years 2010 through 2020.

The Homeland Security Grant Program includes the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), and Operation Stonegarden (OPSG).

You may find attached below an example of the type of document I am looking for. The example is a Long Beach Police Department document announcing that three officers have been authorized to use $16,500 in UASI funding to attend the 2016 Western States Counter-Terrorism Seminar in Israel. The document includes details of how the funding may be spent.

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,

Matthew Petti

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/MatthewPetti_RNucinGD/108978/5eb357a6-9769-4d49-b26d-7d75d7576d41.pdf
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed. Again, thank you for using the Public Records Center.
Director, Public Information
Boston Police Department

--- Please respond above this line ---
06/14/2022 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of May 30, 2022, Reference # B001439-053022 Dear Matthew Petti: The City of Boston (City) has received your request for public records.  This response applies only to records that exist and are in the custody of the City. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115.  It is expected that a custodian of records must use her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests.  950 CMR 32.04(5).  Specifically, you stated:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

All documents sufficient to show when Homeland Security Grant Program funds were used to pay for travel to or training in Israel during the calendar years 2010 through 2020.

The Homeland Security Grant Program includes the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), and Operation Stonegarden (OPSG).

You may find attached below an example of the type of document I am looking for. The example is a Long Beach Police Department document announcing that three officers have been authorized to use $16,500 in UASI funding to attend the 2016 Western States Counter-Terrorism Seminar in Israel. The document includes details of how the funding may be spent.

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,

Matthew Petti

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/MatthewPetti_RNucinGD/108978/5eb357a6-9769-4d49-b26d-7d75d7576d41.pdf
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ I see that a response to this request is due today.  I have alerted a representative from the Boston Police Department in an effort to obtain an update on the status of your May 30, 2022 public records request.  I will provide an update to you once additional information is provided to me by the department. Very truly yours, Bianca V. Crockett, Esq. Assistant Corporation Counsel City of Boston One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Bianca.crockett@boston.gov (mailto:Bianca.crockett@boston.gov)

--- Please respond above this line ---
Public Record Request of 5/30/2022 Reference No: B001439-053022 Dear Matthew Petti: The Boston Police Department (Department) received your  request for public records.  This letter shall act as the response to your request for public records. Please note this response will apply only to the records that exist and are in the custody of the Department. See A Guide to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, p. 32, n.115.  It is expected that a custodian of records must user her superior knowledge of her records with respect to responses to public records requests.  See 950 C.M.R. 32.04(5). Specifically, you requested: To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

All documents sufficient to show when Homeland Security Grant Program funds were used to pay for travel to or training in Israel during the calendar years 2010 through 2020.

The Homeland Security Grant Program includes the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP), the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI), and Operation Stonegarden (OPSG).

You may find attached below an example of the type of document I am looking for. The example is a Long Beach Police Department document announcing that three officers have been authorized to use $16,500 in UASI funding to attend the 2016 Western States Counter-Terrorism Seminar in Israel. The document includes details of how the funding may be spent.

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,

Matthew Petti

Attachments:

https://cdn.muckrock.com/outbound_composer_attachments/MatthewPetti_RNucinGD/108978/5eb357a6-9769-4d49-b26d-7d75d7576d41.pdf
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ In response to your request, a comprehensive search was conducted with the information you provided.  We were unable to find any records that would be responsive to this request. If you have been denied records by the Boston Police Department, you have the right to appeal this decision with the Supervisor of Public Records at the Public Records Division of the Secretary of the Commonwealth.