By Representative Day of Stoneham (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2585) of Vincent Lawrence Dixon relative to police chief reform, improvement and certification. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
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Date
Branch
Action
4/23/2026
House
4/23/2026 HouseAccompanied a study order, see H5322↗ (under House Rule 27)
9/11/2025
Joint
9/11/2025 JointHearing scheduled for 09/25/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-2
2/27/2025
Senate
2/27/2025 SenateSenate concurred
—
House
— HouseReported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order
2/27/2025
House
2/27/2025 HouseReferred to the committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security
The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the following new chapter:
A Chapter for Police Chief Reform, And Improvement.
All persons, in order to be qualified to be a Police Chief, shall have a distinct Certification Process, that is distinct, from the Police Officer Certification Process.
There shall be a distinct Police Chief Standards and Accreditation Committee. This Committee shall develop, and implement, such procedures.
▸SECTION 1A
) Membership of such committee, shall be determined by appropriate consultation, and regulations, with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security; the Office of Governor, and the Attorney General. The Membership shall consist of no more than five (5) individuals, who shall include at least one (1) individual with substantial experience, as a Police Chief, and one (1) individual representing the general public.
▸SECTION 2
The Schedule for Police Chiefs, and those qualifying for such status, by a distinct Police Chief Standards and Accreditation Committee, shall be:
• Temporary License (Time Limited to One Year)
• Provisional License (Time Limited to Two Years)
• Initial License (Time Limited to Three Years)
• Professional License (Time Limited to Five Years)
▸SECTION 3
The Balances, that must be evaluated, in the context of, the complexity of Police Reform, include these needs:
• To recognize the raising of the level, and competence, of Police Officers.
• To distinctly raise the level of Police Chiefs, who have additional needs for breadth of skill, training, competence, and management abilities.
• To provide a reasonable period for qualifying competent officers, who may wish to seek appropriate promotion.
• To provide a reasonable period for qualifying additionally competent Police Chiefs.
• To recognize appropriate values, in updating competent Police Chiefs, and their honorable positions.
▸SECTION 4
In general, in recognizing the need for these long overdue reforms, actions may, and likely should, reduce to the absolute possible minimum, the unfortunate prevalence of various incompetencies; and remove such individuals as do not meet reasonable standards; whether they be Police Officers, or Police Chiefs. In so doing, this legislation seeks to further improve, the professional quality of Police Chiefs, and the appropriate respect that such professionals should have, for such opportunity of enjoyment, in the communities, for which they serve.
▸SECTION 4A
) Training Availabilities & Requirements. The process of regulation, and standards, shall include recommendations, and standards for training availabilities, and requirements, developed over time, and with a spirit of improving professional capabilities.
▸SECTION 5
While this may lead to the selected removal of some long-time Police Officers, or Police Chiefs, the cost of any reform, must include the capacity, to move on, to a new, fresh page of progress, without retaining significant flaws, that should not have been permitted. This set of circumstances, can certainly be appropriately adjusted for, by appropriate retirements, through existing provisions of Retirement Law.
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SECTION 1. The Massachusetts General Laws are hereby amended by inserting the following new chapter:
A Chapter for Police Chief Reform, And Improvement.
All persons, in order to be qualified to be a Police Chief, shall have a distinct Certification Process, that is distinct, from the Police Officer Certification Process.
There shall be a distinct Police Chief Standards and Accreditation Committee. This Committee shall develop, and implement, such procedures.
SECTION 1A.) Membership of such committee, shall be determined by appropriate consultation, and regulations, with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security; the Office of Governor, and the Attorney General. The Membership shall consist of no more than five (5) individuals, who shall include at least one (1) individual with substantial experience, as a Police Chief, and one (1) individual representing the general public.
SECTION 2. The Schedule for Police Chiefs, and those qualifying for such status, by a distinct Police Chief Standards and Accreditation Committee, shall be:
• Temporary License (Time Limited to One Year)
• Provisional License (Time Limited to Two Years)
• Initial License (Time Limited to Three Years)
• Professional License (Time Limited to Five Years)
SECTION 3. The Balances, that must be evaluated, in the context of, the complexity of Police Reform, include these needs:
• To recognize the raising of the level, and competence, of Police Officers.
• To distinctly raise the level of Police Chiefs, who have additional needs for breadth of skill, training, competence, and management abilities.
• To provide a reasonable period for qualifying competent officers, who may wish to seek appropriate promotion.
• To provide a reasonable period for qualifying additionally competent Police Chiefs.
• To recognize appropriate values, in updating competent Police Chiefs, and their honorable positions.
SECTION 4. In general, in recognizing the need for these long overdue reforms, actions may, and likely should, reduce to the absolute possible minimum, the unfortunate prevalence of various incompetencies; and remove such individuals as do not meet reasonable standards; whether they be Police Officers, or Police Chiefs. In so doing, this legislation seeks to further improve, the professional quality of Police Chiefs, and the appropriate respect that such professionals should have, for such opportunity of enjoyment, in the communities, for which they serve.
SECTION 4A.) Training Availabilities & Requirements. The process of regulation, and standards, shall include recommendations, and standards for training availabilities, and requirements, developed over time, and with a spirit of improving professional capabilities.
SECTION 5. While this may lead to the selected removal of some long-time Police Officers, or Police Chiefs, the cost of any reform, must include the capacity, to move on, to a new, fresh page of progress, without retaining significant flaws, that should not have been permitted. This set of circumstances, can certainly be appropriately adjusted for, by appropriate retirements, through existing provisions of Retirement Law.