Bitcoin receipts: Melrose, Mass Police Dept.

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:

All receipts for a purchase of bitcoin and all invoices for any outside consultant hired to provide advice or assistance in purchasing bitcoin, for all dates up to the date in which this request is processed. As detailed in news stories, the Melrose Police Department needed to purchase bitcoin in order to pay its ransomware attackers: http://melrose.wickedlocal.com/article/20160229/NEWS/160226126.

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 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Kevin Collier

Thank you.

I notice this invoice doesn't specify who the $489 was paid to. Was it to a bitcoin exchange or a local security expert?