MAPLE To Tackle Police Management and Supervisory Practices In 2022

Police management and leadership in Massachusetts, or in some cases the lack thereof, came into focus at the March 16^th 2022 meeting of the Board of Directors. The meeting was held via zoom, courtesy of Anne Marie Rocheleau. The Board decided to responded to a resolution by the general membership, unanimously passed at the fall general meeting, to conduct an extended review of police management and leadership practices in the Commonwealth, offering recommendations for improvement. Since the general meeting, the Board has received information indicated that local chiefs find themselves increasingly under the direct influence of Mayors and City managers, who often assume authority for operational and disciplinary decisions, stripping the chiefs of their professional prerogatives. Disciplinary practices, forced overtime and internal stress caused by inconsistent and ill-conceived policies and procedures were also cited as concerns. Anne Marie Rocheleau moved to establish a Police Leadership Review Committee. The motion was seconded by Treasurer Bill Rose and the matter passed by a unanimous vote. All members are eligible to participate in this committee. If interested, contact President Dennis Galvin at 978-846-2635 or respond to this email.

A second resolution, brought forth at the Fall General Meeting, to examine the state’s management of the mentally ill was tabled because the Board concluded that there was too much on the organization’s plate. It will be taken up after the police leadership review is completed.

MAPLE’s police education position, which recommends a minimum of a two year degree, was set aside by the POST C commission during a recent meeting. The commission has recently established minimum standards for police applicants. During the discussion, finalizing these standards, commissioner Larry Calderone (BPD) offered MAPLE’s recommendation for the inclusion of a two year college credit requirement. Commissioner Larry Ellison objected to the recommendation, stating that it would exclude minority candidates from consideration. Consequently, Calderone’s recommendation was set aside. MAPLE members Pat Faiella and Marcel Beausoleil came before the Board and offered that Ellison’s assumption was incorrect. They provided information indicating that 60% of all students in community colleges today would qualify as minority candidates, and that the POST C should be informed of this data. Discussion was conducted and Anne Marie Rocheleau moved to establish a committee to prepare a response to the POSTC. Kathleen Dennehy seconded the motion, and it was put to a vote passing unanimously. Dennis Galvin, Marcel and Pat will form the committee to fashion the response.

President Galvin informed the Board that a legislative commission formed to examine the state’s qualified immunity law is due to report. He asked the Board, what course of action should be followed if the commission reports unfavorably on MAPLE’s recommendation to preserve the state’s qualified immunity law. The discussion involved posting newspaper ads and writing editorials. Kathleen Dennehy offered a motion, that a MAPLE delegation should request a meeting with the editorial boards of both the Boston Globe and Boston Herald to educate them on the concerns MAPLE has raised, if qualified immunity is struck down. Anne Marie Rocheleau seconded Dennehy’s motion. The matter was put to a vote and it passed unanimously.

In other business President Galvin submitted a budget for MAPLE for FY 2022. The budget estimated total revenue for the year at 5.6K, which included last year’s carry over funds and dues for this year. He requested $387.00 in administrative costs to cover an IRS filing, a PO Box rental fee and the annual registration fee with the Secretary of State. $1300 was requested for operational costs which included two general membership meeting and the annual fee for the webmaster. 3.9K was placed in reserve. The President requested another $275 for his discretionary account and reported that he returned $40.00 from the last appropriation, which was partly used to cover the mailing costs of last year’s elections.

A review of the membership was also conducted. MAPLE has 50 members in good standing ( all dues are current). Eight members joined over the course of last year. Nine members have not renewed and contact has been lost with them. Many of these members were formerly affiliated with MACJE and their memberships were tentative even with that organization. One former member died. The Board voted to rescind the memberships of these nine individuals. Numerous attempts had been made to contact them but to no avail.

The final item on the agenda, was the approval of Fruitlands Museum in Harvard MA as the site of the spring general meeting. The President was tasked with reaching out to management of that establishment to see if arrangements could be made to accommodate our meeting there. Board members present at this meeting were Galvin, Champagne, Rose, Rocheleau, Dennehy, Puller.

DUES REMINDER:
Dues for 2022 are now due. Please forward your dues to maintain your membership. Dues remain at $50.00. Checks should be made out to M.A.P.L.E. and forwarded to the address listed in the logo on top of this message.

Thank you all for your continued support

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