Press Release  POST Commission Releases Consolidated List of Officer Certification Status, Adds Three Suspensions

Boston — September 6, 2023                Contact: Cindy Campbell

For Immediate Release                   Cynthia.a.campbell@mass.gov

Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission Releases Consolidated List of Law Enforcement Officer Certification Status, Adds Three to Suspended Officer List

Boston – The POST Commission released today a new database showing the current certification status of law enforcement officers.  The data lists of law enforcement officer status can be found on the POST website:  https://www.mass.gov/lists/data-and-reports and contains 10,832 records from 438 law enforcement agencies. The data is current as of August 20, 2023.

The POST Commission classifies officer status as outlined below. A person cannot be hired or employed as a law enforcement officer in Massachusetts without POST certification.

• Certified: Officer has met the necessary requirements and is certified for three years
• Not Certified: Officer has not satisfied all recertification requirements (i.e., failed to complete the required training, is out on excused leave, or has a disciplinary matter)
• Not Certified (Excused Leave): Officer is on extended leave (medical, military, family or administrative) and has not met recertification requirements
• Conditionally Certified: Officer has met some recertification requirements, and must satisfy all requirements within a specified time frame
• Under Review: POST needs more information to process the recertification application and/or the officer is challenging a certification decision

POST also recently announced an update to the suspended law enforcement officer list.   Three newly suspended officers are listed below, bringing the total number of suspensions to 42:

• Danny Khun, Saugus Police Department
• Scott Saunders, Hull Police Department
• Michael Morin, Fall River Police Department

The POST Commission is directed by statute to suspend the certification of an officer who is arrested, charged or indicted for a felony and will revoke the certification of an officer who is convicted of a felony. The suspension order is in effect until a final decision or revocation is made by the Commission.

The POST Commission was established as part of a 2020 criminal justice reform law to focus on efforts to improve public safety and increase trust between members of law enforcement in the Commonwealth’s communities.  The POST Commission is charged with creating a mandatory certification process for police officers, as well as processes for decertification, suspension of certification, or reprimand in the event of certain misconduct.

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