Enforcement Counsel

Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission
Job Posting

Job Title:
Enforcement Counsel

Reports to:
Director of Police Standards

The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission is an independent agency that oversees law enforcement departments and officers throughout the Commonwealth. The Commission is charged with the following:

• Establishing certification standards for law enforcement departments and officers;
• Determining whether those standards have been met;
• Developing regulations and policies governing law enforcement;
• Decertifying, suspending, or ordering retraining for, or imposing other sanctions on officers who commit misconduct or otherwise fail to satisfy requirements;
• Maintaining, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding law enforcement; and
• Conducting investigations, adjudicatory proceedings, and public hearings regarding such matters.

The Commission is governed by, implements, and enforces Chapter 6E of the Massachusetts General Laws. Pursuant to that statute, the Commission collaborates with the Commonwealth’s Municipal Police Training Committee in several areas of its work.

The Commission is looking for an experienced attorney to join the growing team of the Division of Police Standards (“Division”) as an Enforcement Counsel. The Division advances the Commission’s purpose by diligently investigating allegations of officer misconduct, and advocating for disciplinary outcomes that are fair, consistent, and engender the trust of both the public-at-large and the law enforcement profession. The Enforcement Counsel plays a leading and critical role in the fulfillment of these objectives.

Please note that pursuant to state law, no employee of the Division of Police Standards shall have previously been employed as a law enforcement officer, previously employed by a law enforcement agency or be a retired law enforcement officer or retired from a law enforcement agency. This provision does not apply to former federal law enforcement officers or former law enforcement officers from jurisdictions outside of Massachusetts.

The Enforcement Counsel will supervise all aspects of investigations into allegations of law enforcement officer misconduct. This work includes, but is not limited to: developing strategies for investigating complaints submitted by members of the public or law enforcement agencies; drafting written reports summarizing the findings and recommendations of these investigations, and presenting finished investigative reports to the Commission at monthly meetings.

The Enforcement Counsel will also prosecute disciplinary cases in adjudicatory proceedings before the Commission or a hearing officer. The Enforcement Counsel works under the supervision of the Division Director, and works closely with the Division’s Compliance Agents, support staff, and other personnel as part of a team that collectively ensures the fair and consistent application of all relevant laws and policies.

Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage a full caseload of investigations and matters in administrative litigation.
• Direct all aspects of confidential preliminary inquiries for assigned matters, including but not limited to, compelling the production of records and other materials, reviewing investigative and interview reports, examining witnesses under oath, preparing reports that clearly articulate the conclusions and determinations resulting from preliminary inquiries, and delivering oral presentations of investigative findings in a clear and concise manner.
• Represent the Division in adjudicatory hearings before the full Commission, a single Commissioner, or a hearing officer.
• Advocate for disciplinary outcomes that are fair, consistent, and in compliance with applicable laws, standards, regulations procedures and/or policies.
• Alert the Director of the Division of Police Standards to any allegation which appears to require immediate action by the Commission, including, but not limited to, identifying any matter for potential investigation by means…