AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF RETIRED POLICE OFFICERS IN THE TOWN OF STERLING 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. (a) The select board in the town of Sterling may appoint, as they deem necessary, and upon the recommendation of the chief of police, retired police officers of the town of Sterling as special police officers to perform police details or police duties arising from the police details or during the course of police detail work, whether or not related to the detail work. The retired police officers 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 under 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 that the 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.
(b) 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 sections 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.
(c) Special police officers shall, when performing their duties under subsection (a), have the same powers to make arrests and perform other functions as do regular police officers in the town.
(d) Special police officers shall be re-appointed annually, subject to removal by the select board at any time with 14 days written notice. Upon request, the police chief shall provide reasons for removal in writing.
(e) 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 police chief of the town, 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.
(f) Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall be sworn in before the town clerk of the town, who shall keep a record of all such appointments.
(g) An individual who is appointed as a special police officer pursuant to this act shall be eligible for assignment to any detail, subject to the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement then in effect in the town between the town and the police union.
(h) Retired police officers in the town 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.
(i) No further deductions under chapter 32 of the General Laws shall be made from the regular compensation of a special police officer appointed pursuant to this act for any service subsequent to them reaching the age of 65 years and upon retirement a special police officer appointed pursuant to this act shall receive a superannuation retirement allowance equal to that which the officer would have been entitled had the officer retired at the age of 65.
(j) A special police officer appointed pursuant to this act shall comply with all requirements of chapter 6E of the General Laws, including: (i) maintaining certification and good standing with the Massachusetts peace officer standards and training commission; and (ii) complying with all annual in-service and other training requirements mandated by the municipal police training committee.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
Approved, January 6, 2025.