Code of Massachusetts Regulations
550 CMR - MUNICIPAL POLICE TRAINING COMMITTEE
Title 550 CMR 3.00 - Requirements for Law Enforcement Officer Training
Section 3.06 - Police Academy Training
Universal Citation: 550 MA Code of Regs 550.3
Current through Register 1531, September 27, 2024
550 CMR 3.06 shall apply to authorized academies and operated academies.
(1) Enrollment. Candidates accepted into a police academy must meet the following minimum requirements:
(a) Be 21 years of age or
older,
(b) Appointed or sponsored
by a law enforcement agency or, if authorized by the Committee, some other
appointing authority,
(c)
Successfully completed a high school education or equivalent,
(d) Pass a state and national background
check pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6E § 4(f)(1),
(e) Pass the Massachusetts Human Resource
Division's Physical Ability Test (PAT),
(f) Pass a medical examination within nine
months prior to the start of a police academy,
(g) Pass pre-academy fitness standards as set
forth by the Committee,
(h) Meet
other standards established by the Committee,
(i) Have a signed Waiver and Release form.
All issues of civil liability shall be determined in accordance with M.G.L. c.
258 and other applicable law.
(2) Attendance/Absences.
(a) Attendance. Student officers are expected
to attend punctually and participate fully in all scheduled classes,
assignments, field exercises, and formations, except in cases of the following
excused absences: agency authorized bereavement; illness or injury; required
court appearance as a witness or juror; required civic duty; military duty;
emergency; or other absence authorized by the academy director or
appointing/sponsoring agency head. Any student officer requesting leave/absence
for one of these enumerated reasons shall promptly notify the academy director
and appointing/sponsoring agency well in advance of the absence. All other
absences shall be considered un-excused. Any student officer who misses a
statutorily mandated class due to an absence must make up the class.
(b)
Excessive
Absences. Any student officer who is absent from more than 5% of
the prescribed course of study, whether excused or unexcused, may be dismissed
for non-disciplinary reasons. In determining whether to dismiss a student
officer who has missed more than 5% of the prescribed course of study, the
academy director shall consider remedial training options and the student
officer's performance and disciplinary record during the police academy. If
dismissal is not warranted, then an Action Notice shall issue. Any student
officer who is absent from more than 10% of the prescribed course of study
shall be dismissed for non-disciplinary reasons.
(3) Performance.
(a)
Performance
Requirements. Every student officer shall successfully complete
the requirements prescribed by the Committee in each of three performance
areas:
1. academic,
2. skills, and
3. health and wellness.
(b)
Missed Tests.
The academy director will reschedule any test missed because of an
absence.
(c)
Failed
Tests. Any student officer who fails to attain a passing score on
a test shall be promptly notified in writing by the academy director through
the issuance of an Action Notice.
1.
Remedial Training. Any student officer who fails to
attain a passing score on a test shall be responsible for any remedial training
on the student officer's own time and at the student officer's own expense or
that of the appointing/ sponsoring agency.
2.
Retests. Any
student officer who fails to attain a passing score on a test prior to the
final exam shall be offered a retest within two weeks. Any student officer who
fails any of the four sections of the final exam shall be given an opportunity
to retake that portion of the exam within one week. Attaining a passing score
on a retest will result in the recording of the minimal passing
score.
(d)
Non-disciplinary Dismissal for Performance
Deficiencies. Any student officer who fails to attain a passing
score on any retest shall be dismissed for non-disciplinary reasons. Any
student officer who fails three tests prior to the final exam shall be
dismissed for non-disciplinary reasons. Any student officer who otherwise fails
to successfully complete performance requirements prescribed by the Committee
shall be dismissed for non-disciplinary reasons.
(4) Separation.
(a)
Categories of
Separation. A student officer may become separated from a police
academy at any time after beginning but before completing the prescribed course
of study. A Separation Notice shall be completed by the academy director and
distributed in accordance with the directions on the form. For purposes of
550 CMR
3.00, the categories of separation from a police
academy are defined as follows:
1.
Medical Deferment. A student officer who sustains an
injury while participating in police academy training or is diagnosed with a
medical condition that prohibits them from participating in the police academy
training may be granted a medical deferment separation upon request of the
appointing/sponsoring agency head. A diagnosed medical condition shall not
include a physical injury the occurs outside of police academy training. To
qualify for a medical deferment, the student officer must be under the care of
a medical physician who determines the student officer is unable to return to
the police academy training or is unable to participate in the physical
requirements of the curricula for a period of time that causes the student
officer to exceed the excessive absences or maximum allowable Modified Health
and Wellness Program absences, as described in the Health and Wellness
Guide portion of the curriculum.
a.
If granted, the medical deferment begins the date the Separation Notice is
issued and expires one year from that date.
b. Prior to being accepted for readmission,
the student officer must furnish a statement from a medical physician
confirming that the student officer's injury or medical condition has resolved,
and the student officer is physically able to fully participate in training
without restrictions.
c. If the
student officer has not reentered a police academy prior to the expiration of
the medical deferment, all application, admission, and tuition requirements
shall apply and must be met if the student officer reapplies to attend a police
academy.
2.
Voluntary Resignation. A student officer may initiate
a voluntary resignation if, without coercion and for personal reasons, the
student officer chooses to withdraw from the police academy. The student
officer shall make the request to withdraw in writing to the academy director,
who shall notify the appointing/sponsoring agency head. Student officers
separated under
550
CMR 3.06(4)(a)2. shall be
eligible for enrollment in a subsequent police academy, subject to appropriate
appointment/sponsorship and compliance with applicable enrollment
requirements.
3.
Withdrawal by Appointing/Sponsoring Agency. A student
officer's appointing/ sponsoring agency may initiate the withdrawal of a
student officer from the police academy. Student officers separated under
550
CMR 3.06(4)(a)3. shall be
eligible for enrollment in a subsequent police academy, subject to appropriate
appointment/ sponsorship and compliance with applicable enrollment
requirements.
4.
Dismissal for Non-disciplinary Reasons. A student
officer may be dismissed from a police academy for non-disciplinary reasons
including, but not limited to, nonpayment of required fees, excessive absences,
or performance deficiency. Dismissal for non-disciplinary reasons may only be
initiated by the academy director. Student officers separated under
550
CMR 3.06(4)4. shall be
eligible for enrollment in a subsequent police academy, subject to appropriate
appointment/sponsorship and compliance with applicable enrollment
requirements.
5.
Dismissal for Disciplinary Reasons. A student officer
may be dismissed from a police academy for disciplinary reasons. Dismissal for
disciplinary reasons may only be initiated by the academy director or the Chief
of Training for the Committee. Student officers separated under
550
CMR 3.06(4)5. shall be
ineligible for enrollment in any subsequent police academy for a period of not
less than one year nor more than 20 years from the date of
separation.
(b)
Appeals. The Committee shall establish policies and
procedures for appeals from a dismissal for disciplinary reasons. There is no
right of appeal from dismissals for non-disciplinary reasons.
(5) Academy Offenses/Progressive Discipline.
(a)
Classes of
Offenses. Academy offenses are set forth in the Committee's
policies and procedures and may be supplemented by academy-specific operational
rules approved pursuant to
550
CMR 3.05(2). Academy
offenses have been categorized into three classes, determined by the
seriousness of the offense, as follows:
1.
Class I. Commission of a Class I offense may, with the
approval of the Chief of Training for the Committee, result in dismissal from
the academy for disciplinary reasons pursuant to
550 CMR
3.00. If the Chief of Training for the Committee
determines that the circumstances do not warrant dismissal, then a written
disciplinary warning must issue.
2.
Class II. Commission of a Class II offense shall, at a
minimum, result in the issuance of a written disciplinary warning to the
student officer.
3.
Class III. Commission of a Class III offense shall, at
a minimum, result in the student officer preparing a "To-From" memorandum to
the academy director or a staff instructor in which the student officer
acknowledges the breach and relates to the subject of the breach to police
service.
(b)
Progressive Discipline. In keeping with the concept of
progressive discipline, corrective action shall be consistent with, and
appropriate for, the student officer's conduct that resulted in the breach, and
any other history of misconduct while at the academy. The following levels of
escalating corrective action shall be utilized:
1.
"To-From"
Memorandum. The student officer shall write a "To-From" memorandum
for all offenses. This level of corrective action, by itself, shall not be
considered disciplinary.
2.
Admonishment and Counseling. Commission of any Class
III offense for which there is no reasonable explanation, in the discretion of
the academy director or a staff instructor, shall result in admonishment and
counseling. An Action Notice setting forth the offense(s) violated, the action
taken, and the potential consequences of additional violations shall be
completed by the academy director or applicable staff instructor and
distributed in accordance with the directions on the form.
3.
Oral Disciplinary
Warning. Commission of any Class III offense after admonishment
and counseling shall result in an oral disciplinary warning being issued to the
student officer by the academy director or a staff instructor. An Action Notice
setting forth the offense(s) violated, the action taken, and the potential
consequences of additional violations shall be completed by the academy
director or applicable staff instructor and distributed in accordance with the
directions on the form.
3.
Written Disciplinary Warning. Commission of any Class
II offense, or commission of any Class III offense after an oral disciplinary
warning, shall result in a written disciplinary warning being issued to the
student officer. Only the academy director may issue a written disciplinary
warning. An Action Notice setting forth the offense(s) violated, the action
taken, and the potential consequences of additional violations shall be
completed by the academy director and distributed in accordance with the
directions on the form.
(c)
Dismissal for Disciplinary
Reasons. A student officer who commits any of the following may,
with the approval of the Chief of Training for the Committee, be dismissed for
disciplinary reasons:
1. Commission of a Class
I offense, or
2. After receiving a
written disciplinary warning, commission of a Class II offense, or
3. After receiving a written disciplinary
warning, commission of any three additional Class III offenses, or commission
of any two additional Class III offenses that are the same.
If the Chief of Training for the Committee determines that the circumstances do not warrant dismissal, then a written disciplinary warning must issue. An Action Notice setting forth the offense(s) violated, the action taken, and the potential consequences of additional violations shall be completed by the academy director and distributed in accordance with the directions on the form.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Massachusetts may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google
Privacy Policy and
Terms of Service apply.
