Late last week a Quincy attorney filed suit against the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) for allegedly failing to comply with the state’s public records law.
The attorney’s client was charged with assault and battery on a police officer. In preparation for trial, the attorney sent a public records request to the MSP seeking “all internal affairs records” for the arresting trooper.
The attorney believed that at least one complaint was filed against the trooper for allegedly tampering with evidence in July 2024.
Despite this, MSP claimed that the department was “unable to locate any responsive records.”
Shortly thereafter, the attorney brought the issue to the court’s attention and “minutes later” the prosecutor filed a nolle prosequi dropping the case.
Although the case was dropped, the attorney filed a lawsuit against the MSP. The lawsuit seeks (1) a declaratory judgment that the MSP failed to comply with the public records law and (2) an order requiring the MSP to provide the internal affairs records sought by the attorney.
A copy of the complaint is available on universalhub.com.