THE MAPLE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEET:

On August 29, 2017 at approximately 1.00PM the MAPLE Board of Directors met at the Stonehill College campus police conference room  in Easton MA.   President Dennis Galvin presided over the meeting, while Recording Secretary Bob Murphy kept the minutes.  Board Members in attendance included Al Puller (Vice President),  Peter Carnes (Treasurer),  Bill Coulter and Arthur Bourque.  There were several guests in attendance.  The guests were:  Dan Zivkovich-member, Bill Rose-member and Anne Marie K Rocheleau-guest.   Correspondence Secretary Robert Cerra offered his resignation from the Board of Directors in writing, indicating that he will stay on as a general member. The Board unanimously approved his resignation.

HEAD OF STONEHILL CRIMINOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT JOINS MAPLE:

Anne Marie K Rocheleau, the Chair of Stonehill College’s Criminology/Criminal Justice Department came into the August 29^th Board of Directors meeting as a guest and walked out as a member.  Professor Rocheleau was unanimously approved for membership after she provided a brief overview of her experience and qualifications.   She offered an impressive background, which includes a PHD from Northeastern University’s Criminology and Justice Policy program.   Her background reveals a strong focus on juvenile related issues in criminal justice.  She was nominated by Peter Carnes and was unanimously approved by the Board of Directors.    Additionally, the Board confirmed final approval for two other members, Professor Anthony Bragga, the Dean of Northeastern University’s School of Criminal Justice, and Mike Conti, former Director of Firearms Training for the Mass State Police Academy.

EFFORTS TO INCORPORATE MOVE FORWARD:

The MAPLE Board of Directors took a forceful step toward incorporation at its August 29^th meeting.  The Board unanimously voted to authorize the expenditure of $3500.00 from the organization’s Treasury for payment to Attorney Liz Reinhart of Concord MA, who will prepare the articles for incorporation, establishing its 501C3 status and obtaining a lobbying permit.  The organization’s name will also be protected.   The funding for this initiative was greatly aided by a generous contribution from member Arthur Bourque, who pledged $2500.00 to assist with financing the legal work related to this process.  The balance of the funding came from membership dues collected over the past year.   President Galvin will contact Attorney Reinhardt and begin moving this process forward.

THE SYMPOSIUM COMMITTEE MOVES FORWARD ON FINAL DETAILS FOR OCTOBER’S EVENT. 

The MAPLE symposium committee reported to the Board of Directors on August 29^th that final details in preparation for the October 4^th symposium are moving forward.  The program will focus on the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) program that has been adopted by

many states in the US.   The presentation will be made by Dan Zivkovich of the Mass Police Training Committee, who will provide both a general overview of the POST concept, and will offer suggestions and insight as to how POST could be applied in Massachusetts.  The event will be held at the Martin Institute at Stonehill College Easton MA between 12.00 Noon and 3.00PM.   Notices for the symposium will be coming out shortly.  Save the date for this very important symposium.

FALL GENERAL MEETING DATE IS SET:

Attention to all members,  please mark your calendars.   November 7^th 2017 has been set as the date for MAPLE’s fall general membership meeting.   This is the meeting in which every member can vote.  The meeting will be held between 1.00PM and 3.00PM at Stonehill College.  Further details will be provided.  Several issues are working their way to the agenda.    These would include: possible by-law changes related to our incorporation;  the adoption of police reform guidelines and establishing MAPLE’s position with regard to POST.  These are very critical issues affecting Massachusetts Law Enforcement.  It is important that as many of our members as possible participate in this meeting to offer their opinions and guidance on these and other topics.  According to MAPLE’s bylaws, no policy positions affecting law enforcement can be adopted by our organization without the approval of the general membership.

USE OF FORCE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW MASS CHIEF’S POLICY

MAPLE’s Use of Force committee has been tasked with reviewing and critiquing the most recent iteration of the Massachusetts’ Chiefs of Police Use of Force Policy.  MAPLE recently received a copy of the policy, which was forwarded to the committee for its review.  The Policy is very comprehensive and includes a section on the use of Taser’s.

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“The Law Will Not Be Respected; Until Those Who Enforce It Are !!”