Meeting summary: The meeting began with an Executive Director update and then went into Executive Session to discuss strategy with respect to litigation, specifically Scott Hovsepian, et al. v. Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, No. 2284CV00906, Suffolk County Superior Court, and New England Police Benevolent Association, Inc., et al. v. Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, No. 2285CV00555, Worcester County Superior Court.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Meeting summary: The Executive Director gave updates on officer recertification, technology procurement update, and the FY23 Budget. The Legal team discussed technical corrections to use of force regulations, and discussion of Cadet Commission Chapter 6E Section 108 

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Meeting Recording

Meeting summary: The meeting began with approval of June 8, 2022 and June 21, 2022 meeting minutes, followed by an Executive Director report on officer recertification (A-H), the FY23 budget, and discussion of proposed POST policy on dissemination of information concerning law enforcement officers.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Meeting Recording

Meeting summary: The meeting began with the approval of the June 30, 2022 and July 12, 2022 meeting minutes. This was followed by the Executive Director’s report and a Legal update, which included discussion of draft proposed regulations related to the dissemination of information concerning law enforcement officers, as well as joint guidance on Section 12 and use of force.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Executive Director Report (PPT)

Meeting Recording

Meeting summary: The meeting began with approval of the August 4, 2022 meeting minutes, followed by the Executive Director’s report and a finance and administrative update. The General Counsel provided updates on several regulatory matters, including draft regulations on databases and information dissemination, and recertification regulations under 555 CMR 7.00. The Commission also discussed the certification of Humane Society officers, draft regulations for the certification of school resource officers, and joint guidance regarding the application of Chapter 123, Section 12 in relation to the use of force.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Executive Director Report (PPT)

Meeting Recording

Meeting summary: The meeting began with approval of the September 8, 2022 meeting minutes, followed by the Executive Director’s report and a finance and administrative update. The General Counsel provided an update on draft regulations concerning databases and the dissemination of information, as well as proposed amendments to the use of force regulations under 555 CMR 6.00. The Commission also reviewed draft regulations for the certification of school resource officers and heard a presentation on the certification of constables.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Executive Director report (PPT)

Meeting Recording

Meeting summary: The meeting began with approval of the October 13, 2022 meeting minutes. The Executive Director provided updates on officer certification and the public complaint form. The General Counsel presented proposed draft regulations related to initial certification, including provisions for independent applicants and constables under 555 CMR 9.00, as well as regulations on disseminating information about certified status. The Commission also discussed the delegation of authority for issuing immediate and administrative suspensions.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Meeting Recording

Meeting summary: The meeting began with approval of the November 22, 2022 meeting minutes. The Executive Director provided updates on officer suspensions, staffing developments, and regulatory progress. The Commission reviewed proposed draft regulations concerning regulatory actions and advisory opinions, and received hearing updates on the Regulations on Databases and Dissemination of Information (555 CMR 8.00) and the Specialized Certification of School Resource Officers (555 CMR 10.00). The General Counsel presented a proposed policy on the designation of hearing officers for adjudicatory hearings and discussed the definition of “conviction” under G.L. c. 6E, § 1, including the treatment of Continuances Without a Finding (CWOF). The meeting also addressed the process for evaluating the Executive Director.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Executive Director’s Report

Meeting Recording

POST Commission Publishes Officer Suspensions, Reviews Revised Public Database Regulations, and Delegates Authority on Administrative Suspensions

As of January 3, 2023, the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission has published a list of 15 officer suspensions, with updates to follow regularly. Suspended officers receive notice and may request a hearing. POST may also issue administrative suspensions for failing to complete in-service training or report required information, notifying agencies first.

The Commission now posts lists of certified and suspended officers and plans to add non-certified individuals soon, with conditionally certified officers to follow.

Commissioners reviewed a revised draft of 555 CMR 8.00, covering databases and public information, incorporating public feedback and clarifying definitions. The updates allow the Commission to set database launch dates, expand disciplinary summaries, and provide more data-sharing options while refining rules on exclusions and protecting sensitive information. Commissioners debated how to balance transparency with fairness, the definition of a case’s “conclusion,” and whether some rules should be regulations or flexible policies. The Chair directed the legal team to revise the language for clarity and return with updates.

The Commission also approved delegating authority to the Executive Director to lift two types of non-punitive administrative suspensions—training and reporting failures—once an officer complies.

The final FY24 budget, expected to range from $9 million to $11 million, will be up for a vote at the February meeting.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Meeting Recording