Massachusetts releases many police disciplinary records.

Massachusetts Police Officers’ Disciplinary Records Released to Improve ​Accountability

A state commission took a significant step towards improving police accountability on Aug. 22 by releasing ⁣the disciplinary records of thousands of Massachusetts police officers.

The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) unveiled a ⁤publicly accessible database that⁣ includes complaints against over ‌2,100 officers. ⁤These⁣ complaints range from reports of excessive force to ‍criminal misconduct.

The database, which spans from December 1984 to January 2023, reveals more than 3,400 records⁤ of sustained ‌cases of police misconduct against active⁣ officers, as well as those who resigned or retired to avoid discipline. Unfounded or⁤ unsustained complaints are not included.

The database provides detailed information, including the⁣ officer’s name, the law enforcement agency they were employed by, and the date‌ and type of ‌allegation.

Reports of misconduct include:

• Reports alleging bias based on race,‌ ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc.
• Complaints regarding the use ​of excessive, prohibited, or ​deadly force
• Actions that resulted in serious ⁣bodily injury or death, including ⁢officer-involved shootings
• Truthfulness or professional⁢ integrity (misrepresenting⁢ or falsifying reports or evidence)
• Other misconduct (unprofessionalism, policy violations, conduct unbecoming, conformance to rules, etc.)

POST Executive Director Enrique Zuniga emphasized the importance of releasing these records.

“Over the past year, law enforcement agencies submitted disciplinary records and ⁢POST staff has worked carefully to ⁣validate these officer records for publishing. We know that⁢ releasing this information furthers police accountability and ⁣is a matter of great public interest,” Mr Zuniga said‍ in a statement.

Out of the 440 law enforcement agencies under POST purview, the database includes records from ⁣273 ​agencies. The remaining agencies reported no sustained complaints and are not included.

Departments ‌with the Most⁣ Complaints

The departments with the highest⁤ number of complaints⁢ in the database are three of the largest police agencies in the‍ state: the Massachusetts State Police (493),​ the Springfield Police Department (417), and Boston Police (373).

The average number of complaints for the remaining police departments⁣ with reportable disciplinary records was eight.

Anyone ‌can submit a police misconduct complaint to the POST Commission via an⁤ online form, including those related to discrimination, ‍excessive force, serious injury or death, improper use of​ a weapon, or unprofessionalism.

“There is an underlying ⁢issue in that there⁣ is a shortage of quality candidates applying to be a ⁤police officer,” said Springfield Police ⁤Department Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood in a statement to the Boston Herald.

“This has led to individuals who would not have been hired in the past‌ being disciplined and or ​terminated early in their ⁣careers for their off-duty⁣ behaviors.

“Unfortunately, that trend may continue until the pendulum swings back to where ⁢this is a‍ highly sought-after profession.”

The POST ‍Commission, ⁤established in 2020 as part ‍of a criminal ⁢justice reform law, aims to enhance public safety and foster trust between law enforcement ⁤and the community in ⁢Massachusetts.

Massachusetts’s release of officers’ disciplinary records coincides with California governor ⁣Gavin ⁣Newsom’s proposal in June to restrict access to police misconduct records to ‌address a projected $31.5 billion budget deficit.