HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4084        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michael S. Day, (BY REQUEST)

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to police chief reform and improvement – certification act.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 4084        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to police chief reform and improvement – certification act.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the following new chapter:

A Chapter for Police Chief Reform, And Improvement.

All persons, in order to be qualified to be a Police Chief, shall have a distinct Certification Process, that is distinct, from the Police Officer Certification Process.

There shall be a distinct Police Chief Standards and Accreditation Committee. This Committee shall develop, and implement, such procedures.

SECTION 1A.) Membership of such committee, shall be determined by appropriate consultation, and regulations, with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security; the Office of Governor, and the Attorney General. The Membership shall consist of no more than five (5) individuals, who shall include at least one (1) individual with substantial experience, as a Police Chief, and one (1) individual representing the general public.

SECTION 2. The Schedule for Police Chiefs, and those qualifying for such status, by a distinct Police Chief Standards and Accreditation Committee, shall be:

•Temporary License (Time Limited to One Year)

•Provisional License (Time Limited to Two Years)

•Initial License (Time Limited to Three Years)

•Professional License (Time Limited to Five Years)

SECTION 3. The Balances, that must be evaluated, in the context of, the complexity of Police Reform, include these needs:

•To recognize the raising of the level, and competence, of Police Officers.

•To distinctly raise the level of Police Chiefs, who have additional needs for breadth of skill, training, competence, and management abilities.

•To provide a reasonable period for qualifying competent officers, who may wish to seek appropriate promotion.

•To provide a reasonable period for qualifying additionally competent Police Chiefs.

•To recognize appropriate values, in updating competent Police Chiefs, and their honorable positions.

SECTION 4. In general, in recognizing the need for these long overdue reforms, actions may, and likely should, reduce to the absolute possible minimum, the unfortunate prevalence of various incompetencies; and remove such individuals as do not meet reasonable standards; whether they be Police Officers, or Police Chiefs. In so doing, this legislation seeks to further improve, the professional quality of Police Chiefs, and the appropriate respect that such professionals should have, for such opportunity of enjoyment, in the communities, for which they serve.

SECTION 4A.) Training Availabilities & Requirements. The process of regulation, and standards, shall include recommendations, and standards for training availabilities, and requirements, developed over time, and with a spirit of improving professional capabilities.

SECTION 5. While this may lead to the selected removal of some long-time Police Officers, or Police Chiefs, the cost of any reform, must include the capacity, to move on, to a new, fresh page of progress, without retaining significant flaws, that should not have been permitted. This set of circumstances, can certainly be appropriately adjusted for, by appropriate retirements, through existing provisions of Retirement Law.