Report: General Membership Meeting (1 of 3)
Chief Lester Baker, POST Commissioner: Consultant Ed Denmark Share Insights
The Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement (MAPLE) conducted its sixteenth general membership meeting at Il Forno’s restaurant in Littleton MA on Wednesday June 5th2024. Following a reception and luncheon, President Galvin gaveled the meeting to order at 1.00PM sharp. Shortly after convening, the President introduced featured speaker Chief Lester Baker of the Framingham Police Department and a recently appointed commissioner to the state’s Peace Officer’s Standards and Training (POST) commission. The chief offered insightful comments on the commission; as well as, on issues involving policing and mental health, officer suitability, field training the application of technology in law enforcement. He was followed by MAPLE member Ed Denmark (former Harvard MA Police Chief and currently a police management consultant). Ed addressed the disconnect between outcomes and process in policing. Full remarks for both speakers are posted below.
With regard to general business; minutes were approved for the December General Meeting. Treasurer Bill Rose gave a report on the current finances. Starting balance since the last general meeting was 5.3K. Total revenue received (donations and dues) was $1337.32. $754 in expenditures were reported consisting of rent for the USPS P.O. box, ($232), purchase of a zoom account ($172), and payment to the webmaster ($350). The current balance in the Treasury was reported at $5,888.32.
President Galvin announced a new initiative sponsored by MAPLE. The Board of Directors voted to support a research project conducted by Dr. Neil Shortland of the University of Massachusetts’s School of Criminology and Justice. The study will focus on police officers and will attempt to measure the impacts of “moral trauma” upon them. Moral Trauma refers to the emotional and psychological impact of years of exposure to death, human degradation, violence and high-risk decision making. This will be a two-year study. There is no cost to MAPLE as the study, if approved, will be funded by the National Institute of Justice.
Lastly, President Galvin submitted a 7.4K budget for FY 2024 based on expected increase in revenues of approximately 2K over the year. Galvin pointed out a line expense of $1900 to be placed in reserve, specifically for the purpose of funding the publication of a document related to police reform authored by MAPLE, which would capture the work of both the police leadership and the mental health committees. The membership approved the establishment of this reserve account. There was a lively roundtable discussion during the open forum section of the meeting with Joan Wisher, Jim Martin and Rich Griffin offering comments. The meeting adjourned promptly at 3.00PM.
Members in attendance: Dennis Galvin (chair-recording), Bob Champaign, Bill Rose, Kathleen Dennehy, Ann Marie Mires, Ann Marie Rocheleau, Al Puller, Brian Ohara, Tim Galvin, Jack Consigli, Bill Gross, Frank Mancini, Ross Hymon, Jim Martin, Richard Griffin, Ed Denmark, Sam Santiago, Joan Wisher. Littleton Police Chief Matt Pinard attended as a guest. Member Ed Denmark was issued a recognition award for his service as a member of the MAPLE Board of Directors.
MAPLE 