Code of Massachusetts Regulations 555 CMR - PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING COMMISSION
Here’s an updated overview of 555 CMR — Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST), the Massachusetts regulations governing law enforcement officer certification, conduct, and oversight:
📚 Structure & Content
According to the official Massachusetts Law Library, 555 CMR is organized into these main sub‑titles:
1.00 Procedural Rules
2.00 Construction; Application of Rules; Notice
6.00 Use of Force by Law Enforcement Officers
7.00 Recertification
8.00 Databases and Dissemination of Information
9.00 Initial Certification of Officers; Renewals
10.00 Specialized Certification for School Resource Officers
11.00 Regulatory Action and Advisory Opinions
12.00 Maintenance, Reporting, and Audits of Law Enforcement Records (mass.gov)
🔍 Key Sections & Highlights
6.00 – Use of Force
Defines permissible non-deadly (§ 6.04) and deadly force (§ 6.05) scenarios.
Mandates a duty to intervene (§ 6.06) and detailed use-of-force reporting (§ 6.07).
Establishes protocols for managing crowd events (§ 6.08) and thorough investigations when force leads to serious injury or death (§ 6.09).
Includes training requirements under § 6.10 (law.cornell.edu).
8.00 – Databases & Information Dissemination
Establishes statewide databases for officer certification, training history, disciplinary actions, complaints, and decertification data under §§ 8.05–8.06.
Requires agencies to notify officers when reporting data (§ 8.04).
Requires a public-facing database with key officer info (e.g., name, certification status, employment history, disciplinary summaries), along with defined exclusions to protect privacy (§ 8.06) (399759da.delivery.rocketcdn.me).
Other Noteworthy Provisions
1.00 & 2.00 define how the Commission conducts business, provides notice, and issues regulations/advisories.
7.00 covers officer recertification procedures.
9.00 details initial and standalone recertification processes for officers.
10.00 governs school resource officer training and standards.
11.00 outlines disciplinary, advisory, and enforcement actions.
12.00 deals with agency-level record‑keeping and auditing requirements.
🛠 Regulatory Authority & Updates
The POST Commission operates under M.G.L. c. 6E, which grants it rulemaking power for these standards.
Section 6.00 (Use of Force) became effective October 1, 2021 and was last amended as an emergency regulation on August 5, 2022 (law.cornell.edu, sec.state.ma.us, mass.gov).
Section 8.00 (Databases) is current as of September 1, 2023 (399759da.delivery.rocketcdn.me).
📥 Where to Access the Full Text
Mass.gov (Trial Court Law Libraries): Contains complete text, sub‑titles, and amendment dates (mass.gov)
Mass POST Commission Website: Direct PDF links to each section’s current version (mapostcommission.gov)
Cornell LII / Casetext / Justia: Offer searchable versions and formatting comparisons (regulations.justia.com)
✅ Next Steps
Would you like to:
Examine the full language of a specific section (e.g. § 6.06 duty to intervene or § 8.06 public database rules)?
Understand compliance impacts for law enforcement agencies or officers?
Review relevant guidance/advisory documents issued alongside these regulations?
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