Procedure for Obtaining a Public Record(s)

Pursuant to Rhode Island General Law 38-2-3(d) the Middletown Police Department, (MPD), hereby adopts the following procedure for requesting/obtaining public records:

  1. A request to inspect and/or copy public records of the MPD can be requested verbally or in writing to the Captain of Administrative Services, at 123 Valley Road, Middletown, RI 02842 during normal business hours (8 am to 4 pm to Monday through Friday), telephoning 401-846-1144, ext. 7003 or by emailing Captain Michael Faria.
  2. To ensure compliance with the Access to Public Records Act, (APRA), and to help you receive the records in an expeditious manner, we ask you to complete a Public Records Request Form, which is available at the Middletown Police Station. This form is not required if you are seeking records pursuant to APRA or other documents prepared for, or readily available, to the public.
  3. The APRA allows the MPD ten business days to respond to the request unless otherwise extended for good cause in accordance with the provisions of subsection 38-2-3(e). In such an instance, you will receive a response from the MPD within thirty (30) days of the request.
  4. The following information reflecting an initial arrest of an adult and charge or charges shall be made available with forty-eight (48) hours after receipt of such request unless a request is made on a weekend or holiday, in which event the information shall be made available within seventy-two hours. The arrest records must contain the following information:
    1. Full name of arrested adult
    2. Home address of the arrested adult (unless it would ID a victim)
    3. Year of birth of the arrested adult
    4. Charge(s)
    5. Date of the arrest
    6. Time of the arrest
    7. Gender of the arrested adult
    8. Race of the arrested adult
    9. Name of arresting officer (unless undercover)
  5. If the MPD determines the requested records are exempt from disclosure for a reason set forth in RIGL 38-2-2, (5), (i), (A-Y), the MPD reserves its right to claim such exemption.
  6. In accordance with RIGL 38-2-4, the MPD may charge a fee of fifteen cents ($.15) per page for copies and/or fifteen dollars ($15) per hour, after the first hour, for search and/or retrieval of documents. For purposes of search and retrieval costs, multiple requests made within a thirty (30) day period to the MPD shall be considered as one request.
  7. The MPD is not obligated to produce for inspection, or copy any records not in the possession of the MPD. In addition, the MPD is not required to reorganize, consolidate, or compile data not maintained by the MPD in the form requested.

Respectfully,

William D. Kewer
Chief of Police