Commission Advances Use of Force Standard, Reviews Overdue Agency Reports and FY24 Spending

At its latest meeting, the POST Commission approved the draft Use of Force standard for inclusion in the certification regulations for law enforcement agencies. The draft includes clarifications on key principles, updates on de-escalation requirements, and guidance to help agencies develop compliant policies.

The Commission also received an informational presentation on the Use of Force Reporting standard, which outlined reporting requirements for use of force incidents, excessive force allegations, public complaints, investigative procedures, record and evidence maintenance, and training.

As part of its ongoing oversight, the Commission identified three categories of records that require agency updates through the LEA portal: open complaints and incident reports overdue by more than 90 days, internal affairs reports closed but pending disciplinary action, and public complaints forwarded to POST that are awaiting agency responses. Currently, 84 agencies have at least one outstanding report, with Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police Department, Springfield Police Department, and Lawrence Police Department each having more than 10 records to update.

The legal team introduced a revised draft of 555 CMR 12.00, governing the maintenance, reporting, and auditing of law enforcement records. The updated version incorporates feedback from public comments and stakeholders.

In financial news, the Commission reported final FY24 spending at $7.6 million—90% of the allocated budget. For FY25, the largest anticipated expenses include payroll, information technology, and office space.

Meeting Materials (PDF)

Meeting Recording

Commission Holds Brief Public Session Before Entering Executive Session

The Commission opened the meeting with a brief public session before entering executive session to discuss confidential matters.

Meeting Agenda (PDF)

Meeting recording