Come July, some Bay State police departments are set to have smaller footprints as their volunteer units go offline.
June 30 is the deadline for the first wave of reserve officers, including part-time officers and volunteers whose last names begin with the letters A through H, to complete new training requirements set forth by the Municipal Police Training Committee in accordance with the police reform lawBut, citing logistical issues with completing the training, some departments are choosing instead to shutter their auxiliary units, which are staffed by volunteers who typically assist with traffic...
Marc Spigel, president of the association, attributed the closures partly to the inconvenience of offered training times. Spigel said another barrier is the logistics of completing in-person training through the newly established Bridge Academy program, which entails 120 hours of hands-on instruction around firearms, defensive tactics and emergency vehicle operation. Most sessions occur during the workday, he said, which isn't feasible for volunteers who often hold 9-to-5 jobs outside of their service as an auxiliary officer.
"Fundamentally, any sworn officer carrying a badge and a gun must have proper training. That's why we set aside $1 million for this year, to further assist municipalities in getting officers the supplemental training they need," Chang-Díaz, also a Democratic candidate for governor, said in a statement."The 2020 law also provided a sheltered period to allow departments and officers time to meet the new training standards.
Ferullo continued,"To support officer convenience and access, the bridge program offers a robust online curriculum and flexible in-person class schedules held at multiple regional facilities. Working in close collaboration with our many stakeholders, the MPTC is confident that together the law enforcement community will achieve the successful implementation of this landmark legislation."