O.P.R.A. Request Denied, What Does The Chief Have To Hide?

The Fact of The Matter recently received a response to a request for Westfield Police Chief John M. Parizeau's EZ Pass records for 2010.       The Town owned vehicle, paid for by the Westfield Taxpayer, that Police Chief Parizeau operates is outfitted with an EZ Pass.       The vehicle, a Dodge Durango, is used by the Police Chief to commute back and forth to work and to shuttle him around while in the capacity of his employment.       The Fact of The Matter does not dispute the usage of this vehicle for employment related duties however, we dispute the use of this vehicle for pleasure purposes.       The reason given by the Westfield Town Clerk Claire J. Gray (the custodian of records) is: "Police Chief John Parizeau's EZ Pass Statements/records for the EZ Pass assigned to the town owned vehicle he operates is not being provided because the vehicle operated by Chief Parizeau is an undercover confidential vehicle and is covered under N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1.1 as an exemption because of security measures and surveillance techniques." The decision by Westfield Town Clerk Claire Gray, is currently in the process of being appealed to the Government Records Council in Trenton, N.J.. Questions: 1.  What surveillance techniques does Chief John Parizeau engage in?  2.  Is Chief Parizeau part of a Westfield Police Dept. "vice-squad" and has this vehicle been used for "vice-squad" investigations? 3.  If the Dodge Durango that Chief Parizeau operates is an "undercover confidential vehicle" how undercover or confidential is it when it is parked in the public parking lot of a local watering hole exposed to all that pass by? 4.  What "undercover" work is being conducted by a N.J. Chief of Police in Massachusetts? 5.  While it might be understandable that "Vice Squad" surveillance might have been conducted behind Westfield's Manhattan Bagel and in Stoneleigh Park in the past, what protection does the N.J. Statute give to Westfield Police Chief John Parizeau as he conducts his business in Massachusetts?  6.  If the "vice squad" type surveillance that this undercover confidential vehicle might have conducted behind Manhattan Bagel and in Stoneleigh Park mixed surveillance with pleasure, is the information requested still exempt? 7.  If a "civilian" is caught in this undercover confidential vehicle, of which releasing the EZ Pass records of the vehicle would compromise the security and "surveillance techniques" of the vehicle, how "undercover" and "confidential" is this vehicle to begin with? 8.  If this is an undercover vehicle, are Breathalyzer tests conducted during it's use? See related story of another O.P.R.A. request made where Westfield Town Clerk Claire Gray states a public record requested could not be found.  Go to  http://07090.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-opra-becomes-opra_07.html Open Public Records Act P.L. 2001, CHAPTER 404 N.J.S. 47:1A-1 et seq. Legislative policy declaration C.47:1A-1 Legislative findings, declarations. The Legislature finds and declares it to be the public policy of this State that: All records shall be accessible government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by the citizens of this State, with certain exceptions, for the protection of the public interest, and any limitations on the right of access accorded by P.L.1963, c.73 (C.47:1A-1 et seq.) as amended and supplemented, shall be construed in favor of the public's right of access; Exemption cited by Westfield Town Clerk Claire Gray as reason for denial of record: "Security Measures and Techniques" Definition:  *security measures and surveillance techniques which, if disclosed, would create a risk to the safety of persons, property, electronic data or software