Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission Executive Director Enrique Zuniga (top left) and Communications Director Cindy Campbell (top right) reviewed the responsibilities of the POST Commission, the latest agency milestones, and common themes of policing reforms during a MMA webinar. MMA Legislative Director Dave Koffman (bottom) moderated.
An MMA webinar today reviewed the responsibilities of the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, the latest agency milestones, and common themes of policing reforms.
POST Communications Director Cindy Campbell reviewed the commission’s mandate to certify officers and law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth. The primary responsibility of the POST Commission is to develop certification standards for officers and agencies in partnership with the Municipal Police Training Committee.
Campbell discussed certification updates, including the recent certification of School Resource Officers. POST collaborated with MPTC in the formulation and deployment of the school resource officers application and certification, she said. School resource officers are required to complete annual training provided by the MPTC.
POST began certifying SROs in October of this year, Campbell said. To date, 427 individuals have completed the required training and obtained an SRO certification.
POST deployed a new agency portal this past May. Certification information is entered in the portal, as well as information about officers who need to be recertified. Soon, the new platform will have functionality for submitting complaints and other reports due to POST.
POST Commission Executive Director Enrique Zuniga outlined certification requirements and information that must be submitted to POST when making appeals or seeking recertifications.
Officers must complete necessary work requirements, in-service training, CPR or First Aid certificates, and education before being granted full certification. If an officer does not meet the certification requirements within the specified timeframe, the Division of Certification may decline to grant certification. Following such a decision, officers may submit a written petition to the commission requesting a review within 21 days.
Zuniga discussed future certification policy matters, including the upcoming recertification process for officers with last names beginning with A through H, which will begin in July 2024. Physical and psychological fitness will also be ascertained by the commission going forward; officers will receive fitness evaluations as an ongoing state requirement.
Regarding the disciplinary process for noncompliant officers, Zuniga said the commission will investigate complaints submitted by police personnel or by the public using an online form. Complaints that allege bias, excessive force or a lack of professionalism, among other issues, fall under the commission’s jurisdiction, she said. Law enforcement agencies can submit disciplinary records and certification documents to POST within 90 days of an incident.
POST published historical disciplinary records earlier in 2023, and has subsequently issued updates. These records include sustained complaints and data on officers who have resigned or retired to avoid discipline. This information is updated regularly via the commission’s database.
MMA Legislative Director Dave Koffman moderated 15 minutes of questions and answers, which addressed inquiries about the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, the difference between “certification” and “accreditation,” revocation proceedings, and sustained complaints regarding retention of disciplinary records.
• Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission presentation (984K PDF)