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The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS IN THE TOWN OF NANTUCKET TO SERVE AS SPECIAL POLICE OFFICERS

     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 chief of police of the town of Nantucket, may, if the chief deems necessary, appoint retired police officers as special police officers to perform police details or performing any police duties arising from those police details or arising during the course of police detail work, whether or not related to the detail work.  Police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall have been regular police officers and retired, based on superannuation.  The special police officers shall not be subject to the maximum age restrictions applied to regular police officers pursuant to chapter 32 of the General Laws, but shall not be eligible to serve as special police officers if they have reached the age of 70.  A special police officer shall pass a medical examination by a physician or other certified professional chosen by the town to determine if that officer is capable of performing the essential duties of a special police officer, the cost of which shall be borne by the special police officer prior to performing police details.
     SECTION 2.  Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall not be subject to chapter 31 of the General Laws, section 85H of chapter 32 of the General Laws or section 99A, 100 or 111F of chapter 41 of the General Laws. Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall be subject to chapter 151A of the General Laws.
     SECTION 3.  Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall, when performing their duties under section 1, have the same powers to make arrests and perform other functions as do regular police officers in the town of Nantucket.
     SECTION 4.  Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall be appointed for an indefinite term, subject to removal by the chief of police of the town of Nantucket at any time upon 14 days written notice.  Upon request, the chief of police shall provide reasons for removal in writing.
     SECTION 5.  Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall be subject to the rules and regulations, policies and procedures and requirements of the police department and chief of police of the town of Nantucket, including restrictions on the type of detail assignment, requirements regarding medical examinations to determine continued capacity to perform the duties of a special police officer, requirements for training, requirements for firearm licensing and qualification and requirements regarding uniforms and equipment. Special police officers shall not be subject to section 96B of chapter 41 of the General Laws.
     SECTION 6.  Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall be sworn in before the town clerk of the town of Nantucket who shall keep a record of all such appointments.
     SECTION 7.  An individual who is appointed as a special police officer pursuant to this act shall be eligible for assignment to any detail.
     SECTION 8.  Retired police officers in the town of Nantucket serving as special police officers pursuant to this act shall be subject to the limitations on hours worked and on payments to retired town employees set forth in subsection (b) of section 91 of chapter 32 of the General Laws.
     SECTION 9.  This act shall take effect upon its passage.

Approved, January 11, 2017