Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission

Documents related to the use of force regulations to be promulgated jointly by the MPTC and the POST Commission.

Summary of Proposed Regulation

With the signing of “An Act relative to justice, equity and accountability in law enforcement in the Commonwealth,” by the Governor on December 31, 2020, commonly referred to as “police reform,” the Commonwealth took a major step forward in establishing uniform training standards and accountability for all law enforcement officers in the Commonwealth. The new law requires the MPTC and the POSTC to jointly promulgate regulations governing the use of force by Commonwealth law enforcement officers.

The proposed legislation in its entirety can be viewed below.

Additional Resources

Use of force by law enforcement officers

Public Hearing Use of Force Minutes August 27, 2021

Written comments received for the purposes of this hearing

Written comments in advance of the hearing were submitted (provided below) by e-mail to [e-mail] or by mail to Deputy General Counsel John H. Melander, Jr., Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, One Ashburton Place, Room 2133, Boston, MA 02108.

Additional Resources

Boston Medical Center Department of Public Safety

Massachusetts Environmental Police

State Police Association of Massachusetts

Law Offices of Howard Friedman, P.C.

Palmer Police Department - Public Comment

National Police Accountability Project - Public Comment On UoF

Norwood Police Department - Public Comment

Massachusetts State Police - Public Comment

MSA Written Testimony to 550 and 555 CMR 6 Use of Force Regulations for LE

MSA Red Lined Testimony - Re UOF Regulations for Law Enforcement

Massachusetts Coalition of Police Public Testimony

ACLU Public Comment