POST Commission Advances Certification, Approves Policy Updates, Elects New Officers

The POST Commission reported ongoing progress in officer certification and disciplinary record reviews. The certification team continues to update the status of nearly 21,000 officers and is working to confirm the status of those with expired certifications.

As part of the historical disciplinary records review, POST is analyzing 150 records from 46 agencies involving terminations, resignations, or other serious matters. Some of these may require publication. POST is contacting agencies that need to revise or resubmit their records.

The Commission confirmed that its new website is now live, offering improved accessibility and real-time updates.

Commissioners elected Charlene Luma as Treasurer and Marsha Kazarosian as Secretary.

The Commission also reviewed progress on 555 CMR 12.00, which governs the maintenance, reporting, and auditing of law enforcement records. The initiative began in May 2023, and POST held a public hearing on August 1. A revised version of the regulations—reflecting stakeholder input—is expected in September.

POST staff provided an update on the Agency Certification Initiative, which is based on eight statutorily mandated standards. While other programs like CALEA and MPAC include over 100–180 standards, the Commission is considering whether to expand its own. POST received 19 comments by the August 9 deadline; most supported adding more standards but recommended a phased approach to ensure effective implementation of the initial eight.

Commissioners expressed support for adopting standards on bias-free policing, data collection, and community engagement, and suggested adding standards on sexual harassment, conflicts of interest, officer wellness, and equipment standardization. A draft on use-of-force standards (different from the use of force policy) will be discussed in a future vote.

The Commission approved several new policies:

• Policy Prohibiting Unauthorized Possession of Weapons in POST offices, with a condition requiring disclosure if someone is carrying a weapon.
• Policy for Appointment of Hearing Officers, allowing the Chair to appoint or remove a retired MA Superior Court judge as hearing officer.
• Policy for Appointment of a Single Commissioner for adjudicatory proceedings when an officer’s certification is suspended, also approved.

The legal team updated the Commission on the Agency Certification Initiative, shared additional comments on certification standards, and outlined a proposed timeline for finalizing the regulations. As part of this effort, the Commission invited public feedback on the draft Code of Conduct standard, which outlines ethical conduct, prohibitions, and accountability requirements for officers.