Wilmington Police Department With THREATENING DISCLAIMER vis-a-vis public records requests

 

Tue, Sep 19 at 1:39 PM

Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth
Public Records Division
One Ashburton Place, Room 1719
Boston, MA 02108
617-727-2832

re: Appeal

Dear Records Division:

My original request follows WPD's reponse.

I am concerned regarding Wilmington Police Department's

shocking disclaimer that response to a public records request

is "confidential."  It seems to be scare tactics to me, and

elder abuse in my case at my age.

If the records' division recalls, Medford would pull this

stunt until I kept complaining and they finally stopped.

Of great public interest is an alleged assault and stabbing

on 9/11/23 on High Street in Medford at Salvatore's Restaurant,

recently changing its name to the Vault.

My media outlets are now buzzing about this and the public,

I feel, has a right to know during this election cycle.

State Rep Paul Donato notes on free speech "It is the

most protected right."

I view the disclaimer as a threat to journalists, but that

is one part of the problem.  The key in this appeal is that

I think the matter is of such great public importance during

the election cycle, especially since a mayoral candidate

had a fund raiser at the venue, that the public has a right

to know.

Thank You

Joe Viglione

joeviglione@yahoo.com

Dear Senior Clerk Susan M. O'Neill,

I'm a bit concerned about your disclaimer.

This is a public record request correspondence and none of it is

"confidential."  Indeed, if reporters want to request a copy of this

journalist's correspondence to you, they are welcome to it.

The city of Medford used to do the same thing.  I kept pressuring

them until they changed their tune and now publish this: 

Please note: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts considers most electronic communications 

to and from public employees to be public records and disclosable under 

the Massachusetts Public Records Law and its regulations. 

*Please consider the environment before printing this email.*

Susan M. O'Neill's e mail notes:

THIS EMAIL MAY CONTAIN FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE INFORMATION.  This E-mail (including attachments) is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 USC 2510-2521, is confidential and may be legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any retention, dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error and then delete the message and any attachments.

I intend to publish the attachment you sent to my audience.

Respectfully,

Joe Viglione

journalist

P.O. Box 2392

Woburn MA 01888 

Wilmington, Massachusetts Police Department



1 Adelaide StreetWilmington, Massachusetts 01887



Business Line: (978) 658-5071



Fax: (978) 658-0035






 



Records Officer 












-Obtaining copies of Police Reports



Contact Susan O’Neil



(978) 658-5071, Ext. 5090





HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY 8AM-3:30PM



https://wpd.org/records-division/


Our Records Department is staffed by clerks Susan O’Neil, Dawn Naimo, & Julie Magaldi. They can assist you in obtaining accident reports or other police reports and information.

Police reports may be requested electronically by sending an email to publicrecords@wpd.org



HOURS: MONDAY-FRIDAY 8AM-3:30PM


Our Records Department is staffed by clerks Susan O’Neil, Dawn Naimo, & Julie Magaldi.





 



 



Dear Records Officer: 

This is a request under the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10).  

I am requesting that I be provided a copy of the following records