550 CMR, § 3.02

Current through Register 1533, October 25, 2024
Section 3.02 - Definitions

Academy Director. A person tasked with overseeing and directing a police academy.

Action Notice. A written notice provided to a student officer by an academy staff member setting forth a disciplinary offense or performance issue and any action taken to address said offense or issue.

Authorized Academy. A police academy whose operation is approved by the Municipal Police Training Committee.

Bridge Academy Training. The training program established pursuant to St. 2020, c. 253, § 102(b) for law enforcement officers who were working in Massachusetts and certified by the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) as of December 1, 2021, who had not previously completed an MPTC police academy or its equivalent.

Chief of Training. A staff member tasked with overseeing and directing the Municipal Police Training Committee's training programs.

Committee. The Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) or its agency staff acting on its behalf, where applicable, or both.

Executive Director. The executive director of the Municipal Police Training Committee.

In-service Training. Mandatory training to be completed annually by all law enforcement officers.

Massachusetts Police Officer Core Competency Assessment. A written exam designed to test an individual's knowledge of Massachusetts criminal laws and procedure.

Law Enforcement Agency (Agency).

(a) A state, county, municipal or district law enforcement agency including, but not limited to: a city, town or district police department, the office of environmental law enforcement, the University of Massachusetts police department, the department of the state police, the Massachusetts Port Authority police department, also known as the Port of Boston Authority police department, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority police department;
(b) a sheriff's department in its performance of police duties and functions;
(c) a public or private college, university or other educational institution or hospital police department;
(d) a humane society police department in M.G.L. c. 22C, § 59; or
(e) any other law enforcement agency subject to POST certification requirements.

Law Enforcement Officer (Officer). A person who

(a) receives an appointment to a position in which he or she will perform police duties and functions as a municipal police officer, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority police officer, Massachusetts environmental law enforcement officer, University of Massachusetts police officer, campus police officer, deputy sheriff appointed pursuant to M.G.L. c. 37, § 3 performing police duties and functions;
(b) any other law enforcement officer subject to POST certification requirements or;
(c) an individual performing police duties and functions that the Committee agrees to train within its discretion.

Operated Academy. A police academy whose operation is financed and staffed by the Municipal Police Training Committee.

Police Duties and Functions. Authorized conduct that includes, but is not limited to, maintaining the peace through community engagement, conducting investigations, conducting traffic enforcement and responding to emergencies, entering premises for purposes of searching and/or seizing property, interviewing or questioning individuals, and making arrests or detaining individuals while committed to procedural justice in the community served by upholding constitutional rights.

Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST). The agency established in M.G.L. c. 6E.

Police Academy. An entry-level academy operated or authorized by the Municipal Police Training Committee that has the prescribed course of study that a law enforcement officer must satisfactorily complete prior to performing police duties and functions in Massachusetts.

Reserve/Intermittent Police Officer. A person who received an appointment to a part-time reserve/intermittent position in Massachusetts in which he or she performs police duties and functions for a law enforcement agency.

Reserve/intermittent Training Program. An entry-level training program operated or authorized by the Municipal Police Training Committee that was the prescribed course of study that a reserve/intermittent police officer had to satisfactorily complete prior to exercising police powers in Massachusetts prior to the passage of St. 2020, c. 253.

Specialized Training. Police training that is not police academy or in-service training.

Sponsored Candidate. A student officer enrolled by a law enforcement agency in a police academy but not appointed as a law enforcement officer at the time of enrollment.

Student Officer. An individual who is attending a police academy in order to perform police duties and functions.

550 CMR, § 3.02

Amended by Mass Register Issue 1486, eff. 1/6/2023.