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December 05, 2025 Clear | 14°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
  3. Title IV CIVIL SERVICE, RETIREMENTS AND PENSIONS
  4. Chapter 31 CIVIL SERVICE
  5. Section 61 Municipal police officers or fire fighters; probationary periods; evaluation

Section 61

Section 61: Municipal police officers or fire fighters; probationary periods; evaluation

[ Text of section effective until November 20, 2024. For text effective November 20, 2024, see below.]

  Section 61. Following his original appointment as a permanent full-time police officer or fire fighter in a city, or in a town where the civil service law and rules are applicable to such position, a person shall actually perform the duties of such position on a full-time basis for a probationary period of twelve months before he shall be considered a full-time tenured employee in such position, except as otherwise provided by civil service rule. The administrator, with the approval of the commission, may establish procedures to ensure the evaluation by appointing authorities, prior to the end of such probationary period, of the performance of persons appointed as regular police officers or fire fighters.

Chapter 31: Section 61. Municipal police officers or fire fighters; probationary periods; evaluation

[ Text of section as amended by 2024, 238, Sec. 150 effective November 20, 2024. For text effective until November 20, 2024, see above.]

  Section 61. Following his original appointment as a permanent full-time police officer or fire fighter in a city, or in a town where the civil service law and rules are applicable to such position, a person shall actually perform the duties of such position on a full-time basis for a probationary period of twelve months before he shall be considered a full-time tenured employee in such position, except as otherwise provided by civil service rule. The administrator, with the approval of the commission, may establish procedures to ensure the evaluation by appointing authorities, prior to the end of such probationary period, of the performance of persons appointed as regular police officers or fire fighters. Unless otherwise provided by civil service rule, and with appropriate adjustments to the timing of performance evaluations called for therein, the second paragraph of section 34 shall apply to persons covered by this section.