Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 6e - Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission
Section 8 - Division of Police Standards

[Text of section added by 2020, 253, Sec. 30 effective July 1, 2021. See 2020, 253, Sec. 122.]
Section 8. (a) There shall be within the commission a division of police standards. The purpose of the division of police standards shall be to investigate officer misconduct and make disciplinary recommendations to the commission.
(b)(1) The head of an agency shall transmit any complaint received by said agency within 2 business days to the division of police standards, in a form to be determined by the commission; provided, that the form shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) the name and commission certification identification number of the subject officer; (ii) the date and location of the incident; (iii) a description of circumstances of the conduct that is the subject of the complaint; (iv) whether the complaint alleges that the officer's conduct: (A) was biased on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, mental or physical disability, immigration status or socioeconomic or professional level; (B) was unprofessional; (C) involved excessive, prohibited or deadly force; or (D) resulted in serious bodily injury or death; and (v) a copy of the original complaint submitted directly to the agency; provided, however, that the commission may establish a minimum threshold and streamlined process for the reporting or handling of minor complaints that do not involve the use of force or allegations of biased behavior.
(2) Upon completion of the internal investigation of a complaint, the head of each agency shall immediately transmit to the division of police standards an investigation report in a form to be determined by the commission; provided, that the form shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) a description of the investigation and disposition of the complaint; (ii) any disciplinary action recommended by internal affairs or the supervising officer; and (iii) if the recommended disciplinary action included retraining, suspension or termination, a recommendation by the head of the agency for disciplinary action by the commission including, retraining or suspension or revocation of the officer's certification.
(3) Upon final disposition of the complaint, the head of each agency shall immediately transmit to the division of police standards a final report in a form to be determined by the commission; provided, that the form shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) any disciplinary action initially recommend by internal affairs or the supervising officer; (ii) the final discipline imposed and a description of the adjudicatory process; and (iii) if the disciplinary action recommended or imposed included retraining, suspension or termination, a recommendation by the head of the agency for disciplinary action by the commission including, retraining or suspension or revocation of the officer's certification.
(4) If an officer resigns during an agency investigation, prior to the conclusion of an agency investigation or prior to the imposition of agency discipline, up to and including termination, the head of said agency shall immediately transmit to the division of police standards a report in a form to be determined by the commission; provided, that the form shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) the officer's full employment history; (ii) a description of the events or complaints surrounding the resignation; and (iii) a recommendation by the head of the agency for disciplinary action by the commission, including retraining or suspension or revocation of the officer's certification.
(5) Notwithstanding any general or special law or collective bargaining agreement to the contrary, nothing shall limit the ability of the head of an agency to make a recommendation in their professional judgement to the commission relative to the certification status of an officer, after having followed the agency's internal affairs procedure and any appeal therefrom.
(c)(1) The division of police standards shall initiate a preliminary inquiry into the conduct of a law enforcement officer if the commission receives a complaint, report or other credible evidence that is deemed sufficient by the commission that the law enforcement officer:
(i) was involved an officer-involved injury or death;
(ii) committed a felony or misdemeanor, whether or not the officer has been arrested, indicted, charged or convicted;
(iii) engaged in conduct prohibited pursuant to section 14;
(iv) engaged in conduct prohibited pursuant to section 15; or
(v) the commission receives an affirmative recommendation by the head of an appointing agency for disciplinary action by the commission, including retraining or suspension or revocation of the officer's certification.
(2) The division of police standards may initiate a preliminary inquiry into the conduct of a law enforcement officer upon receipt of a complaint, report or other credible evidence that is deemed sufficient by the commission that the law enforcement officer may have engaged in prohibited conduct. All proceedings and records relating to a preliminary inquiry or initial staff review used to determine whether to initiate an inquiry shall be confidential, except that the executive director may turn over to the attorney general, the United States Attorney or a district attorney of competent jurisdiction evidence which may be used in a criminal proceeding.
(3) The division of police standards shall notify any law enforcement officer who is the subject of the preliminary inquiry, the head of their collective bargaining unit and the head of their appointing agency of the existence of such inquiry and the general nature of the alleged violation within 30 days of the commencement of the inquiry.
(d) The division of police standards may audit all records related to the complaints, investigations and investigative reports of any agency related to complaints of officer misconduct or unprofessionalism, including, but not limited to, personnel records. The commission shall promulgate rules and regulations establishing an audit procedure; provided, however, that said rules and regulations shall not limit the ability of the division of police standards to initiate an audit at any time and for any reason.
(e) The division of police standards shall create and maintain a database containing information related to an officer's: (i) receipt of complaints and related information, including, but not limited to: the officer's appointing agency, date, a description of circumstances of the conduct that is the subject of the complaint and whether the complaint alleges that the officer's conduct: (A) was biased on the basis of race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, mental or physical disability, immigration status or socioeconomic or professional level; (B) was unprofessional; (C) involved excessive, prohibited or deadly force; or (D) resulted in serious bodily injury or death; (ii) allegations of untruthfulness; (iii) failure to follow commission training requirements; (iv) decertification by the commission; (v) agency-imposed discipline; (vi) termination for cause; and (vii) any other information the commission deems necessary or relevant.
(f) The division of police standards shall actively monitor the database to identify patterns of unprofessional police conduct. Upon identification of a pattern of unprofessional police conduct, the division of police standards may recommend the evidence in its possession for review in a preliminary inquiry.
(g) The division of police standards shall be a law enforcement agency and its employees shall have such law enforcement powers as necessary to effectuate the purposes of this chapter, including the power to receive intelligence on an applicant for certification or an officer certified under this chapter and to investigate any suspected violations of law.