Alerts (Boston Police Department)

Dear Dhruv Mehrotra
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 10/30/2023 11:08:02 PM and given the reference number B003331-103023 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:

- Any emails, memos, or notification reports sent to the company SoundThinking (formerly shotspotter). These are reports where personnel have reached out to Shotspotter for support, because the system failed to detect a shooting or misclassified an incident. According to ShotSpotter, their best practices include steps to ensure that if police officers conclude the ShotSpotter alert was indeed a “false positive,” they report that the company to "keep track and take remedial steps to minimize false positives in the future". I am looking for any such feedback given to ShotSpotter.

- Any emails between department staff with the words "false positive" and "Shotspotter" or "shot spotter" or "sound thinking". Responsive records should be from 2018 until the date this request is processed.

- Copies of all SoundThinking (Shotspotter) responses to aforementioned notification reports, Responsive records should be from 2018 until the date this request is processed.

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, and is not made 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,

Dhruv Mehrotra

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 ---
RE: B003331-103023 Dear Dhruv Mehrotra, The Boston Police Department (Department) has received your request for public records.  This response applies only to 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 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:

- Any emails, memos, or notification reports sent to the company SoundThinking (formerly shotspotter). These are reports where personnel have reached out to Shotspotter for support, because the system failed to detect a shooting or misclassified an incident. According to ShotSpotter, their best practices include steps to ensure that if police officers conclude the ShotSpotter alert was indeed a “false positive,” they report that the company to "keep track and take remedial steps to minimize false positives in the future". I am looking for any such feedback given to ShotSpotter.

- Any emails between department staff with the words "false positive" and "Shotspotter" or "shot spotter" or "sound thinking". Responsive records should be from 2018 until the date this request is processed.

- Copies of all SoundThinking (Shotspotter) responses to aforementioned notification reports, Responsive records should be from 2018 until the date this request is processed.

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, and is not made 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,

Dhruv Mehrotra

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
Your request for records is denied under Exemption N - MA Public Record Law. This exemption allows for the withholding of certain records which, if released, would jeopardize public safety. ShotSpotter is essential to public safety as it allows early notification of gunfire in the City of Boston, which facilitates rapid response of police and emergency medical personnel. Disclosure of the exact location of ShotSpotter sensors would leave the City vulnerable to tampering and vandalism, thereby jeopardizing public safety. You may appeal this response to the Supervisor of Records in the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. G. L. c. 66, § 10A (c); G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(ix); 950 CMR 32.08; 950 CMR 32.08(1)(h) (in petitioning the Supervisor, the requester shall provide a copy of such petition to the records access officer associated with such petition).  You may also appeal to the Superior Court.  950 CMR 32.06(3)(c).
Sincerely, Joseph A. McClellan
Assistant Corporation Counsel
Office of the Boston Police Department Legal Advisor
One Schroeder Plaza
Boston, MA 02120