ShotSpotter / SoundThinking Contract Expansion (Boston Police Department)

Dear Alex Marthews
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 6/13/2024 2:39:25 AM and given the reference number B001773-061324 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:

To Whom It May Concern:

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

Documents, emails and text messages relating to the expiration of the current Boston municipal contract with ShotSpotter, other than the one email already supplied under PRR# B003003-092523.-

- Any documents, emails or other materials referring to "Phase II" of the proposed contract with SoundThinking to provide ShotSpotter coverage in the areas of Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan, including any documents describing the basis on which the area to be covered by Phase II was determined.

- In Exhibit B of the current Service Level Agreement (which expires June 30), page 114, ShotSpotter (now rebranded as "SoundThinking") commits to detect at least "90% of unsuppressed, outdoor gunfire incidents, using standard, commercially available rounds above .25 caliber [...] Each Service Level measurement shall be determined quarterly, the results of which will be reviewed during the periodic account review meetings with Customer." We equest any records relating to these quarterly determinations or periodic account review meetings, and any information relating to adherence or non adherence to the contracted Service Levels, and any information as to how "gunfire incident" is defined." If there are no records of any such quarterly determinations or periodic account review meetings having happened, please specify that there are no responsive documents, rather than simply disregarding entirely this important element of the request.

- Any documents where ShotSpotter (now SoundThinking) and the City discuss an expansion of the contract to cover other services currently provided by SoundThinking. SoundThinking currently refers to four services - ShotSpotter, "CrimeTracer", "CaseBuilder" and "ResourceRouter", as their "SafetySmart" platform.

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.

Best wishes
Alex.

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,

Alex Marthews

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

Track the issue status and respond at: https://bostonma.govqa.us/WEBAPP//_rs/RequestEdit.aspx?rid=32922

--- Please respond above this line ---
06/28/2024 RE: PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST of June 13, 2024., Reference # B001773-061324 Dear Alex Marthews: 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:

To Whom It May Concern:

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

Documents, emails and text messages relating to the expiration of the current Boston municipal contract with ShotSpotter, other than the one email already supplied under PRR# B003003-092523.-

- Any documents, emails or other materials referring to "Phase II" of the proposed contract with SoundThinking to provide ShotSpotter coverage in the areas of Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan, including any documents describing the basis on which the area to be covered by Phase II was determined.

- In Exhibit B of the current Service Level Agreement (which expires June 30), page 114, ShotSpotter (now rebranded as "SoundThinking") commits to detect at least "90% of unsuppressed, outdoor gunfire incidents, using standard, commercially available rounds above .25 caliber [...] Each Service Level measurement shall be determined quarterly, the results of which will be reviewed during the periodic account review meetings with Customer." We equest any records relating to these quarterly determinations or periodic account review meetings, and any information relating to adherence or non adherence to the contracted Service Levels, and any information as to how "gunfire incident" is defined." If there are no records of any such quarterly determinations or periodic account review meetings having happened, please specify that there are no responsive documents, rather than simply disregarding entirely this important element of the request.

- Any documents where ShotSpotter (now SoundThinking) and the City discuss an expansion of the contract to cover other services currently provided by SoundThinking. SoundThinking currently refers to four services - ShotSpotter, "CrimeTracer", "CaseBuilder" and "ResourceRouter", as their "SafetySmart" platform.

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.

Best wishes
Alex.

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,

Alex Marthews

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/ A response to a public records request must be provided within ten (10) business days of receiving a written request.  G. L. c. 66, § 10 (a); 950 CMR 32.06(2)(b).  The public records law permits a response time of up to twenty-five (25) business days from the business day a written request is received, so long as a detailed explanation is provided.  G. L. c. 66, § 10(b)(vi); 950 CMR 32.06(2)(i). Due to the nature of your request, additional time is needed.  As such, the City will need up to, but no more than, fifteen (15) additional business days to review and process your request. Yours truly, Bianca V. Crockett, Esq. Assistant Corporation Counsel City of Boston One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Bianca.crockett@boston.gov