Baker, pols work on cop accountability
Gov. Charlie Baker and House leaders are both working on legislation that would drill down on police accountability in part by creating an officer certification process — a system most other states already have.
“What we’re going to file will do what I believe a lot of people want to see done, which is to create a process that creates more transparency and accountability so that the law enforcement officers who are doing the right thing get the training and the benefit of that training and the opportunity to protect and serve their communities,” Baker said in a press conference Thursday. “But there’s a very fundamental and explicit process to deal with those who don’t.”
Massachusetts is one of just six states that does not require police officers to be licensed — though certification is required for at least 50 other trades and professions, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Baker said the idea for a statewide certification system came from conversations with the Black and Latino Legislative Caucus, and that he expects to file legislation “shortly.”
“I hope everybody at this point understands that there needs to be more transparency and accountability around law enforcement,” Baker said.
The governor said he does not support calls to “defund the police” that have emerged from protests after the death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of Minneapolis officers. Activists are generally calling to shift police money toward social services to aid communities of color.
“As a general rule, I never believed the best way to solve any problem in government is just across the board anything,” Baker said.
House Speaker Robert DeLeo and state Rep. Carlos González, chairman of the Black and Latino caucus, announced their own legislation Wednesday that would increase state oversight of police, including officer certification, banning the use of chokeholds and establishing a commission to examine civil service law and recommend changes to promote more opportunities for minority candidates. They intend to have a bill before Baker by July 31.
Senate President Karen Spilka also announced an advisory group on racial justice Wednesday.
Chelsea Police Chief Brian Kyes, president of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs Association, said police groups generally support the idea of a certification system — like the Peace Officer Standards and Training program used by many states — that would essentially codify many standards already in place in Massachusetts through the Municipal Police Training Committee.
“It’s a good idea to have a certification process, and with certification comes the possibility of decertification,” Kyes said, describing it as “a licensing requirement similar to becoming an attorney.”