Sexual Harassment Complaints/Lawsuits (Somerville Police Department)
It is a clone of this request.
Submitted | Jan. 18, 2018 |
Est. Completion | March 15, 2018 |
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Communications
From: Joey Del Ponte
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
Copies of all reports, lists, or databases detailing the number and/or status of sexual harassment complaints and/or lawsuits brought against the Department over the last 5 years. This should include requests for, or documentation of, funds used to cover settlement agreements, court costs, or other expenses related to lawsuits.
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,
Joseph Del Ponte
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
Copies of all reports, lists, or databases detailing the number and/or status of sexual harassment complaints and/or lawsuits brought against the Department over the last 5 years. This should include requests for, or documentation of, funds used to cover settlement agreements, court costs, or other expenses related to lawsuits.
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,
Joseph Del Ponte
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Jan. 18, 2018. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Somerville Police Department
Please send all your request to publicrecords@somervillma.gov<mailto:publicrecords@somervillma.gov> not records@police.somerville.ma.us<mailto:records@police.somerville.ma.us>. Thank you.
Lori L Cook
Records Clerk
Somerville Police Department
220 Washington St.
Somerville, Ma. 02143
617-625-1600 x7244
records@police.somerville.ma.us<mailto:records@police.somerville.ma.us>
www.somervillepd.com<http://www.somervillepd.com/>
(Please be advised that SPD Records has 10 business days to honor your request.)
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE: The information contained in this email and any attachment to it is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521 and is legally privileged. It is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this transmission in error, please immediately reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error and then delete it. Thank you
-
~WRD000
From: Joey Del Ponte
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. c.66, §10, I hereby request the following records:
Copies of all reports, lists, or databases detailing the number and/or status of sexual harassment complaints and/or lawsuits brought against the Department over the last 5 years. This should include requests for, or documentation of, funds used to cover settlement agreements, court costs, or other expenses related to lawsuits.
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,
Joseph Del Ponte
From: Somerville Police Department
Dear Mr. Del Ponte: This e-mail is in response to your public records request below. After review of your request, on behalf of the record custodian(s), I am writing to respond to your request for records, as follows:
Your request seeks "Copies of all reports, lists, or databases detailing the number and/or status of sexual harassment complaints and/or lawsuits brought against the [Somerville Police] Department over the last 5 years. This should include requests for, or documentation of, funds used to cover settlement agreements, court costs, or other expenses related to lawsuits." There are no "reports, lists, or databases" responsive to your specific request.
Respectfully,
Jason D. Grossfield
Assistant City Solicitor
City of Somerville
93 Highland Avenue
Somerville, MA 02143
Phone: (617) 625-6600, ext. 4408
Fax: (617) 776-8847
E-Mail: jgrossfield@somervillema.gov<mailto:jgrossfield@somervillema.gov>
This message and any attached documents contain information which may be confidential, subject to privilege or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. However, when responding, please be aware that the Massachusetts Secretary of State has determined that most email is public record and therefore cannot be kept confidential. These materials are intended only for the use of the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient of this transmission, you are hereby notified that any distribution, disclosure, printing, copying, storage, modification or the taking of any action in reliance upon this transmission is strictly prohibited. Delivery of this message to any person other than the intended recipient shall not compromise or waive such confidentiality, privilege or exemption from disclosure as to this communication. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify the sender and delete the message from your system. Thank you.