Public Meeting

Commission Advances Streamlined Process for Officer Recertification, Adopts Voluntary Relinquishment Policy, Reviews Proposed Officer Response Procedures

The POST Commission reviewed the process for the second round of officer recertification, covering approximately 8,000 officers with last names A–H. Staff reported a streamlined process focused on confirming officer details and noting any changes since their previous certification. Moving forward, certification terms will last three years plus the officer’s birth month. The LEA portal will reopen May 5, 2025 to process applications. The Commission reminded agencies to report all job status changes, as officers not linked to an agency will be marked “Expired” when their certification ends.

The Division of Standards provided a semi-annual update, reporting 359 public complaints and 410 agency-submitted cases from October 1, 2024, through March 30, 2025. Staff review an average of 30 new public complaints and 17 agency reports each week.

The legal team presented updates on several standards, including use of force, officer response procedures, investigatory stops, traffic stops, and the code of conduct. Commissioners voted to adopt the draft policy on voluntary relinquishment of officer certification, which outlines the process and consequences of an officer choosing to give up certification.

Finance staff reported that 66% of the FY25 budget has been committed and shared updates on FY26 budget planning and upcoming legislative testimony.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Watch Recording

Watch Recording

Commission Prioritizes Officer Wellness, Advances Juvenile Standards, and Grants First Voluntary Relinquishment

At this meeting, the POST Commission reaffirmed its commitment to officer wellness, emphasizing the psychological toll of law enforcement and the need for education, peer support, and stronger mental health resources. Guest speaker Dr. Tracie Goodness highlighted the impacts of trauma and PTSD, while Commissioner Hanya Bluestone advocated for mandatory wellness standards and support for officers and their families.

The legal team presented research on officer physical fitness and outlined key principles for draft juvenile operations standards, encouraging public feedback.

The Commission approved its first application for voluntary relinquishment of certification and postponed discussion of the National Decertification Index policy to the next meeting.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Watch Recording

POST Commission Invites Public Comment on Robert V. Choquette’s Voluntary Relinquishment of Certification Application

Commission Approves NDI Policy, Explores Officer Fitness Standards, and Announces New “Restricted” Certification Status

The POST Commission approved a new policy for sharing information with the National Decertification Index (NDI), a nationwide registry that tracks law enforcement officer decertifications.

Commissioners also discussed officer physical fitness in relation to recertification. They reviewed research showing that officers typically begin their careers in peak physical condition but often leave the profession less fit than the general population. The Commission explored potential standards, resources, and incentives to support wellness throughout an officer’s career, including considerations for age and breaks in service. These discussions may inform future regulatory changes.

The Commission also introduced a new “restricted” certification status for officers not currently affiliated with a law enforcement agency.

In other updates, the Division of Finance and Administration reported $8.07 million in FY 2025 budget activity, with an expected year-end reversion between $620,000 and $674,000. The agency currently employs 51 staff members.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Watch Recording

Meeting Summary: 

The executive director reviewed the significant progress that the Division of Certification has made in processing recertification applications for officers with certifications expiring July 1, 2025. He also discussed updates to the Officer Disciplinary records database, as well as complaint/incident reporting trends, including overdue complaints without an extension, cases closed with discipline pending, the average number of days where discipline is pending, the total number of cases/complaints, and cases with approved extensions. The Boston Police Department led with the highest number in each category. 

Legal Division staff celebrated Counsel Evert Fowle’s selection to the Boston Bar Association’s Public Interest Leadership Program. Staff also presented on U and T Visas and outlined law enforcement agency obligations, as well as resources for those seeking visas. Staff presented on the Agency Certification initiative, specifically a revised draft of the Officer Response Procedures standard, which incorporated feedback from the Municipal Police Training Committee. New elements of the draft included enforcement quotas and immigration matters, including provisions around U and T Visas.  

Lastly, Division of Standards staff introduced proposed updates to complaint reporting procedures, specifically creating a clearer definition between minor and serious matters.  The proposal aims to improve agency reporting compliance and streamline internal processes. Further discussions on this are expected at a future meeting.  

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Watch Recording

Meeting Summary:

The executive director gave an update on the Officer Disciplinary Records database, including efforts to improve uniformity and detail of records. He announced that complaint summaries will be added to the database on a rolling basis moving forward for new complaints (not historical). He also shared information on past and upcoming speaking engagements, and touched on recent critical incidents involving officers, which highlight the hazards of the profession.  

Finance and Administration Division staff provided a FY25 financial report. Final spending came in around $7.98 million, representing about 91% of the funding budgeted to POST for FY25. Staff also provided an overview of the FY26 spending request, which originally was for $9.5 million. The Governor’s budget included a reduction of 6% and the Conference Committee’s final budget included an additional 1% reduction. Staff submitted its spending plan to the Executive Office of Administration and Finance and expects to receive feedback in early October. Staff is waiting to see if the legislature will approve a request to use $74,000 in unspent money from FY25 for FY26. The largest expenses for FY26 are payroll, information technology, and office space rent. POST aims to have 60 employees by the end of FY26. 

Legal Division staff presented on three Agency Certification standard drafts. First, staff shared a second round of revisions for the Officer Response Procedures draft, which included feedback from the Municipal Police Training Committee. Commissioners voted to preliminarily approve the draft standard. Second, staff shared revisions to the Criminal Investigation Procedures draft, which was last presented in April for initial feedback. Lastly, staff introduced the Detainee Transportation draft standard for the first time. The presentation provided a high-level overview of key aspects, such as officer conduct, transport vehicles, searches, restraints, and supervision. 

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Watch Recording

Meeting Summary: 

After the public meeting was called to order, the Commission proceeded into a closed executive session.  

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Watch Recording

Meeting Summary 

The executive director provided an update on in-service training for Training Year 2025, including information about officers who missed or did not report training. The Certification Division issued notices of noncompliance, with a deadline of Oct. 30, 2025, to the affected officers and agencies. Officers who remain out of compliance after the deadline may be administratively suspended. 

The executive director announced that an updated Officer Status Change Form is available on POST’s website. The updated form is more user-friendly, includes drop-down menus to streamline data entry and processing, and now facilitates updates for officers in the “restricted” category. 

Finance and Administration staff provided an overview of FY26 activity. The Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F) acknowledged receipt of POST’s FY26 spending plan submission but has not yet issued formal approval or comments. Through the first quarter of FY26, POST spent approximately 19% of its total budget, compared to 25% at the same point last year. The House of Representatives passed the final deficiency budget for FY25. It included authorization for POST to use $74,000 in unspent FY25 funds in FY26. POST currently employs 50 staff members. Staff also provided an update on preliminary FY27 planning, noting that the Governor’s budget will be filed by Jan. 28, 2026, and that POST’s maintenance budget submission is due to A&F by Nov. 3, 2025. 

Legal Division staff shared two draft documents for constables, created in consultation with the Massachusetts Trial Court’s Office of General Counsel. These documents are intended to clarify what actions are permitted or not permitted for constables who are not certified by the POST Commission. No vote was requested at this time. 

Commissioner Marsha Kazarosian was re-nominated as Secretary of the POST Commission. Commissioner Charlene Luma was re-nominated as Treasurer of the POST Commission. 

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Watch Recording

Nov. 20, 2025
8:30 a.m.

Remote Participation via Zoom

1) Call to Order
2) Approval of Minutes
a) October 16, 2025
3) Executive Director Report – Enrique A. Zuniga, Heather E. Hall
a) General Update
b) MACOPA Request to form Advisory Committee
c) Requests for Relinquishment of Certification
4) Legal Update – Randall E. Ravitz, Gerald Cahill
a) Request to Remove Complaint 6616 from Public Database under 555 CMR 8.06(4)(b)12.
5) Agency Certification Standards – Randall E. Ravitz, Annie E. Lee
a) Criminal Investigation Procedures
b) Juvenile Operations
c) Collection & Preservation of Evidence
6) Matters not anticipated by the Chair at the time of posting
7) Executive Session in accordance with the following:
• M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(1), to discuss “the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, . . . or individual”;
• M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(5), to discuss the investigation of charges of criminal misconduct;
• M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(7), combined with M.G.L. c. 6E, § 8(c)(2), and to the extent they may be applicable, M.G.L. c. 6, §§ 168 and 178, and M.G.L. c. 119, § 5E, to discuss matters relating to preliminary inquiries and initial staff review concerning whether to initiate such inquiries, and regarding certain criminal or juvenile record information and the reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect; and
• M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(7), combined with M.G.L. c. 30A, §§ 22(f) and (g), to discuss and approve prior Executive Session minutes.
a) Reports of Preliminary Inquiry in the following cases:
i) PI-2024-007
ii) PI-2025-018
iii) PI-2023-07-12-003
iv) PI-2025-028
v) PI-2025-026
b) Division of Standards request to enter voluntary decertification, suspension or disposition agreement in the following cases:
i) PI-2025-011
ii) PI-2024-56
iii) PI- 2025-013
iv) PI- 2023-04-13-011
c) Division of Standards request for approval to conduct Preliminary Inquiries in the following cases:
i) PI-2025-057
ii) PI-2025-058
iii) PI-2025-059
iv) PI-2025-060
v) PI-2025-061
vi) PI-2025-062
vii) PI-2025-063
d) Request for Removal of Information from Website submitted by Donald Spaulding.
e) Voluntary Relinquishment of Certification
i) Darren Mangott
f) Approval of the minutes of the Executive Session of October 16, 2025
g) Review of approved Executive Session minutes per M.G.L. c. 30A, § 22(g).

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Meeting Materials (PDF)

POST Commission Invites Public Comment on Two Applications for Voluntary Relinquishment of Certification

Watch Recording

Remote Participation via Zoom
Meeting ID: 934 4249 1294

1) Call to Order
2) Approval of Minutes
a) November 20, 2025
3) Executive Director Report – Enrique A. Zuniga, Heather E. Hall
a) General Update
b) MACOPA Request to form Advisory Committee
c) Request for Relinquishment of Certification – Stephen Gondella
formerly of the Massachusetts State Police
4) Finance Update – Eric Rebello-Pradas
a) Budget Request to Administration & Finance for FY27
5) Legal Update – Randall E. Ravitz, Gerald Cahill
a) Guidance to Constables
b) Request to Remove Complaint 6616 from Public Database under 555
CMR 8.06(4)(b)12.
6) Agency Certification Standards – Randall E. Ravitz, Annie E. Lee, George Boateng
a) Detainee Transportation
7) Matters not anticipated by the Chair at the time of posting
8) Executive Session in accordance with the following:
• M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(1), to discuss “the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, . . . or individual”;
• M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(5), to discuss the investigation of charges of criminal misconduct;
• M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(7), combined with M.G.L. c. 6E, § 8(c)(2), and to the extent they may be applicable, M.G.L. c. 6, §§ 168 and 178, and M.G.L. c. 119, § 5E, to discuss matters relating to preliminary inquiries and initial staff review concerning whether to initiate such inquiries, and regarding certain criminal record information and the reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect; and
• M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(7), combined with M.G.L. c. 30A, §§ 22(f) and (g), to discuss and approve prior Executive Session minutes.
a) Division of Standards request to enter voluntary decertification, suspension or disposition agreement in the following cases:
i) PI-2024-079
b) Division of Standards request for approval to conduct Preliminary Inquiries and/or impose a suspension in the following cases:
i) PI-2025-064
ii) PI-2025-065
iii) PI-2025-066
iv) PI-2025-067
v) PI-2025-068
vi) PI-2024-065
c) Request for Removal of Information from Website submitted by Donald Spaulding
d) Request for Relinquishment of Certification
i) John Landers formerly of the Northeastern University Police Department
e) Approval of the minutes of the Executive Session of November 20, 2025

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Meeting Materials (PDF)

POST Commission Invites Public Comment on Two Applications for Voluntary Relinquishment of Certification

Watch Recording