MA Bilingual Officers - Framingham
| Tracking # |
2019-1569, 2019-1717 2019-1569 |
| Submitted | Oct. 23, 2019 |
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Communications
From: Adrien Salzberg
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
- Copies of all forms currently used by the department to evaluate an officer/candidate's ability to speak, read, and write languages other than English.
- Copies of department policy on interacting with deaf and hard of hearing individuals
- Copies of department policy on American Sign Language, if any
- Copies of forms currently used by the department, if any, to evaluate an officer/candidate's knowledge of American Sign Language
- Documentation, such as spreadsheets of which officers are currently certified as speaking a second language (e.g. Spanish, Vietnamese,) please include this as well.
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,
Adrien Salzberg
From: Framingham Police Department
City of Framingham, MA
Public Record Request Number:2019-1569
Requester: Adrien Salzberg
Request Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 3:27:00 PM
Response Due Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Dear Adrien Salzberg :
We have received your public records request. This request is being assigned to the appropriate department for a response. The department records access officer will review the request and create an effort estimate to comply with your request. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, if the effort estimate is more than 2 hours, we will create a proposed cost estimate and will email such estimate to your attention. Once you approve the amount and send the payment, we will begin working on your request.
If the effort estimate is less than 2 hours, we will proceed to work on the response and will send you the response once the work is completed. Please also note that Massachusetts General Law allows us to complete and send the response within 10 business days. However, the response date may be extended for any of the following reasons:
1. Any clarification that is required from you towards this request will stop the clock. The clock will be resumed once the proper clarification is received.
2. Payment of estimated effort – The time it takes to receive the due amount will be added to the original due date.
3. If in the opinion of the records access officer it is determined that original due date cannot be met despite reasonable effort, the due date shall be extended based on reviewer’s judgment, subject to an additional extension of time with the permission of the Supervisor of Public Records, which we reserve the right to seek if necessary. You will be promptly notified in such case with the revised due date or will be copied on a petition to the Supervisor of Public Records.
Thank you.
Marilia Martins, Department RAOPolice Department
City of Framingham
150 Concord St.
Framingham, MA 01702
Tel: (508)-532-5901
Email: mbm@framinghamma.gov
From:
City of Framingham, MA
Public Record Request
Number:2019-1569
Requester: Adrien Salzberg
Request Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2019 3:27:00 PM
Response Due Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Dear
Adrien Salzberg:
We have completed the work in reference to your
request as referenced above. The response is given
below.
Request Response
Sir,
With
respect to your request, please be advised that this Department does not have responsive documents. We do not have or use forms, policies, excel sheets, or tracking of officers/officer candidates ability to speak, read and write languages other than English. Including American Sign Language.
The Framingham Police department does not have any policy on American Sign Language Attachments
This
response may or may not contain separate Response Documents to include specific
response and data. In case such separate response documents exist, they are
represented by attachments to this response email. Therefore, please look for any
attachments if they exist. Between Request Response and attachments, we believe
you are receiving a comprehensive response to your request.
If you have
any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us at the following
email address.
Thank you.
Marilia Martins, Department RAOPolice Department
City of Framingham
150 Concord St.
Framingham, MA 01702
Tel: (508)-532-5901
Email: mbm@framinghamma.gov
From: Adrien Salzberg
Hello,
Thank you for your help with this request! I just want to confirm that the department has no policies on interacting with deaf/hard of hearing people. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that "law enforcement agencies must provide the communication aids and services needed to communicate effectively with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, except when a particular aid or service would result in an undue burden or a fundamental change in the nature of the law enforcement services being provided."
I also spoke with someone on the phone from the police department that told me the department administers a test for language proficiency. If neither if these records exist, could I ask for the department's guidelines on using interpreters?
Thanks,
Adrien
From: Framingham Police Department
City of Framingham, MA
Public Record Request Number:2019-1717
Requester: Adrien MuckRock News
Request Date: Thursday, November 21, 2019 8:54:00 AM
Response Due Date: Friday, December 6, 2019
Dear Adrien MuckRock News :
We have received your public records request. This request is being assigned to the appropriate department for a response. The department records access officer will review the request and create an effort estimate to comply with your request. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law, if the effort estimate is more than 2 hours, we will create a proposed cost estimate and will email such estimate to your attention. Once you approve the amount and send the payment, we will begin working on your request.
If the effort estimate is less than 2 hours, we will proceed to work on the response and will send you the response once the work is completed. Please also note that Massachusetts General Law allows us to complete and send the response within 10 business days. However, the response date may be extended for any of the following reasons:
1. Any clarification that is required from you towards this request will stop the clock. The clock will be resumed once the proper clarification is received.
2. Payment of estimated effort – The time it takes to receive the due amount will be added to the original due date.
3. If in the opinion of the records access officer it is determined that original due date cannot be met despite reasonable effort, the due date shall be extended based on reviewer’s judgment, subject to an additional extension of time with the permission of the Supervisor of Public Records, which we reserve the right to seek if necessary. You will be promptly notified in such case with the revised due date or will be copied on a petition to the Supervisor of Public Records.
Thank you.
Marilia Martins, Department RAOPolice Department
City of Framingham
150 Concord St.
Framingham, MA 01702
Tel: (508)-532-5901
Email: mbm@framinghamma.gov
From: Framingham Police Department
City of Framingham, MA
Public Record Request
Number:2019-1717
Requester: Adrien MuckRock News
Request Date: Thursday, November 21, 2019 8:54:00 AM
Response Due Date: Friday, December 6, 2019
Dear
Adrien MuckRock News:
We have completed the work in reference to your
request as referenced above. The response is given
below.
Request Response
The Framingham Police department uses a Sorenson Video Relay Service, for assistance with deaf and hearing impaired individuals. We have a large monitor for interpretation calls.
We would also use the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, lines is needed.
You noted: I also spoke with someone on the phone from the police department that told me the department administers a test for language proficiency. You would need to be more specific to whom you spoke with and the content of the conversation. As previously noted, we do no administer any language proficiency testing.
Attachments
This
response may or may not contain separate Response Documents to include specific
response and data. In case such separate response documents exist, they are
represented by attachments to this response email. Therefore, please look for any
attachments if they exist. Between Request Response and attachments, we believe
you are receiving a comprehensive response to your request.
If you have
any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us at the following
email address.
Thank you.
Marilia Martins, Department RAOPolice Department
City of Framingham
150 Concord St.
Framingham, MA 01702
Tel: (508)-532-5901
Email: mbm@framinghamma.gov
Files
There are no files associated with this request.