HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-09-29-PDMC-min.pdf POLICE MANUAL COMMITTEE
Meeting 9/29/76 7 45 P.M.
Members Present Kent, Corr, Keith, Cella, Mabee, Hays, Chapin
Invited Guests From Massachusetts Police Institute (M.P I )
John M Collins - Chief - Research/Planning
Thomas F O'Connor - Police Consultant
Mr Collins reviewed the services available of the M.P I as it relates to
police manual work. At present the M P I offers free technical advice to
chiefs throughout the state Through the chiefs of police they offer
assistance in writing rules and regulations for individual departments and
develop draft versions of these rules and regulations if required
Mr O'Connor of the M.P I led into a discussion of the ideal manual, the
logical breakdown of which would seem to include Section 1 on standard
rules and regulations; Section 2 the duties by rank and assignments/job
description and Section 3 policies and procedures Furthermore he pointed
out that the need to have any manual or manual changes reviewed and accepted
by not only the selectmen but also the collective bargaining unit within the
town and the police departments
In our further discussion it became clear that as our deliberations are carried
forward, any changes in a manual that have the effect of changing working
conditions, then these changes are subject to collective bargaining and the
Union or Police Association has every right to see and review and approve.
In a discussion of what a manual should be, the M.P I feels that by tradition
and practice a policy manual is an internal document It is an attempt to
improve the effectiveness of a police force and is a statement as to what a
Chief requires of the force under his command In the opinion of the M.P.I
it is Section 3 or the policies and procedures section is the only place where
there could be some articulation of town policy or input from the community
In a discussion of the promulgating authority of a police manual it would seem
evident that the Section 1 and 2 referred to above will have to be approved by
the Selectmen and/or Town Manager whereas the Section 3 which is operational
by the Chief and dated on his own authority In some towns (Arlington, Shrewsbury
and Amherst for example) the Town Manager issues regulations However, since
the Town Manager Act in each town does vary this should be reviewed as respects
the Lexington Act
The M.P I advises that over 95% of the cities and towns have accepted, slightly
modified or are looking for the town approval of the policies and procedures
sections as developed by the M P I It is anticipated that the 24 monographs on
policies and procedures will be added to in the near future so that the total
may be 32 They recommend that all of these monographs be part of any policy and
procedure section. The M.P I is in a position to provide these monographs and
OCT �-
1975
corrections thereto for distribution on a limited scale In all cases,
assistance from the M.P I must be through the Chief of Police The
discussion of the distribution of a police manual, the M.P I questioned
the wisdom of town wide distribution
We further discussed as to whether or not there should be an introductory
statement by the committee or chief to the policies and procedures Section
3 indicating the nature that these policies and procedures are guidelines
However, each monograph already has an introductory section This concept
will be reviewed at a later date Furthermore, we feel there would have
to be some coordination between a new policies and procedures Section 3
to resolve any conflicts with existing rules and regulations, job assignments
covered in the previous labelled Sections 1 and 2.
Additional information given to each committee member the M.P I Technical
Assistance Projects Program for 1976 record of the 1974 and 1975 juvenile
arrests in Lexington.
October meetings 10/5/76
10/19/76
10/26/76
Time 7 30 P.M.
Place Room G15, Basement - Town Office Building
Adjourned 9 45 P.M
24;(11
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H g h M. Chapin ri
Clerk