POST Update  

Policing Has A Solid Professional At The Table

When the well-respected Chief of Pittsfield MA, Michael Wynn announced his retirement in December, apprehension and anxiety among the state’s police community began to rise over concern about who would replace him.  The police profession has only one seat at the table when it comes to the POST commission. While there are two other police officers on the nine-member commission, they sit in representation of interests other than policing per se (one represents police union concerns and the other represents minority officer concerns).  The only seat that is focused solely on the quality and effectiveness of the police profession in Massachusetts, as a whole, is the seat that is designated for a Chief of Police. After interviewing and watching Chief Baker perform, members can rest assured that he is up to the task and has the vision and personal commitment to effectively represent policing.           

Chief Baker first came to MAPLE’s attention following the release by the POST commission of unvetted personnel documents impacting thousands of officers in this Commonwealth.   MAPLE was monitoring the meeting when he gave some very straight forward criticism to a POST administrator, who thought that 95% accuracy in the release of these records was acceptable.  In offering his criticism, Chief Baker displayed an exceptional sensitivity and concern for those officers, whose reputations might have been defamed.  He stridently counseled the POST staff to expedite the corrections and stated that when it comes to people’s reputation,100% accuracy is the only standard.    After this meeting, MAPLE reached to the Chief and we finally connected on April 12^th in a café in Framingham.           

Framingham, which is now a city of approximately 80,000 residents is policed by 150 officers.  Lester Baker commands this operation.  He reports to a Mayor, who he describes as very supportive, and a City Council that has control over his budget.  His career extends back thirty years to his start on the Lexington Police, where he was mentored by the late Captain Phil Taylor, a well-respected police professional.  He transferred to Framingham and eventually became Deputy of Operations and then Chief. During the interview it became obvious that the Chief Baker was very informed on the pressing issues of the day; the problems of police hiring, mandated education and homeland security concerns.         

In discussing the POST commission, Chief Baker said that after working with the commission through several months, he described their approach as very conscientious, exhibiting a particular concern over officer wellness.  He said that the original bias against police representation on the POST staff is beginning to change, noting that the ban against hiring former police officers on staff has been lifted for job applicants, who served on police departments out of state.          

The Chief made it a point to calm concerns about possible ulterior motives behind the formation of the POST Commission offering reassurance to officers, that if they are honest and professional they have little to be concerned about.  We discussed the scope of the Commission’s approach and he stated that it is comprehensive and all sworn officers within the chain of command from patrolman to chief are subject to its’ standards. In that regard, the Chief pointed out that the commission has the authority to conduct audits into any police agency in the Commonwealth and noted that an audit program will be forthcoming to ensure that departments have basic policies in place to guide their operations, and that these policies are being followed.  He noted that there is about 8 hours of preparatory time before each meeting.           

As the working head of an urban police department Chief Baker has some very specific ideas about improvements that need to be made in policing.  He advised that more and more departments in the state are leaving Civil Service because it has become such an impediment to hiring, most would rather set up their own systems.  Framingham left civil service, which allowed him to establish his own hiring standards.  He has been able to hire out-of-state candidates and he places high value on both education and prior military service.  He was very much aware of the fact that students in junior colleges are predominantly minority offering a great pool for recruitment. A policy of strict investigation of every civilian complaint has also been instituted. The operating experience with this policy has revealed that it has worked well in establishing both transparency with the public and in vindicating officers, who are falsely accused of allegations.           The Chief expressed his full agreement with MAPLE’s position that supervisory personnel should not be members of the same union with the officers they supervise.   He agreed that this was a conflict of interest.  With regard to domestic developments particularly those related to the southern border. he expressed concerns about the general readiness of the state’s homeland security response.  He strongly believed that more discipline, training and coordination on both regional and statewide response protocols are necessary to meet the possible challenges that the future may present.         

MAPLE’s interview with Chief Baker concluded after ninety minutes and several cups of coffee.  The chief offered his regrets for missing the December general meeting and he enthusiastically accepted an invitation to join our spring general meeting.  The interview clearly established him as a capable professional, who has found himself in a very critical position at an equally critical time for policing in Massachusetts. He is very interested in sharing his perspectives with our members.

Save The Date

PLAN TO ATTEND MAPLE’S SPRING 2024 GENERAL MEETING

Return to Il Forno’s Restaurant Littleton MA on Wednesday June 5^th  2024

MAPLE is announcing the date of its spring 2024 general meeting.   The meeting will be conducted at IL FORNO’s restaurant in Littleton MA.  Lunch is free for members.  Reception at 11A, lunch at 12P and business meeting to follow.  Our confirmed guest speaker for the event will be Chief Lester Baker of the Framingham Police Department and a member of the Massachusetts POST Commission.  He will offer remarks on the development of the POST Commission and of other trends in Law Enforcement.  There will be reports from both our Police Leadership and Mental Health Committees.  Please plan to attend.   

If you do plan to attend please RSVP to this email or to 978-846-2635.  More information will follow as the date approaches.  Look forward to seeing you all there.  If members wish to bring a guest(s)  please call the RSVP number and let us now who and how many.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL IS NOW UNDERWAY:

Attention members, with each passing year not only do we grow older, but membership needs to be renewed.  We have some ambitious projects that we are planning to undertake and will explain them at the General Meeting. 

To accomplish our goals we need resources.  Member support has been critical to MAPLE’s effort.   Please continue to support us and to participated in shaping our approach toward improve policing.  

Dues renewal remains $50.00 a year.  Send personal checks  (IRS rules) to MAPLE  PO Box 323  Westford MA 01886 and help us to continue our very important work.