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.

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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.

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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.  

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