Determination of Good Character and Fitness for Employment

General Standards Utilized by Employing Agency and Commission. Any assessment of whether an officer possesses good character and fitness for employment shall take into account on-duty and off-duty conduct. (2) Submission by Employing Agency. (a) Each officer's employing agency shall provide a submission to the commission concerning whether an officer possesses good character and fitness for employment, in accordance with commission policy. In assessing good character and fitness for employment, an employing agency may take into account whether an officer adheres to state and federal law, acts consistently with recognized standards of ethics and conduct adopted by the employing agency or as set forth in the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct most recently adopted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and is worthy of the public trust and of the authority given to law enforcement officers. In making such an assessment, the agency also may rely on questionnaires, any guidance or forms approved by the Commission, performance reviews, relevant education, specialized training, professional awards, achievements, commendations by law enforcement agencies or officials or others, instances of imposed discipline, patterns of misconduct, and any other evidence of past performance. (b) If an employing agency determines that an officer possesses good character and fitness for employment, the agency shall provide, upon request by the commission, documentation supporting such a determination. (c) If an employing agency determines that it cannot find that an officer possesses good character and fitness for employment, the employing agency shall make a written report to the commission, a copy of which shall be simultaneously provided to the officer and the head of the officer's collective bargaining unit. 1. The written report shall contain an explanation for the agency's determination including, but not limited to, a description of specific conduct supporting the agency's determination. The written report must be sufficient to permit the commission to evaluate the basis for the employing agency's determination, and to permit the commission to determine whether the officer possesses good character and fitness for employment. 2. As to each instance of specific conduct cited in the agency's report as evidence that the officer may lack good character and fitness for employment, the employing agency shall address: a. Any discipline imposed or decision issued by an authority as a result of the conduct, or the reason(s) why there was no discipline or decision; b. The extent to which the officer complied with any such discipline or decision; c. Any similar conduct allegedly undertaken by the officer subsequent to any such discipline or decision; and d. The dates of each instance of conduct, and imposition of discipline or issuance of a decision. (d) Response by Officer. Within 14 calendar days of the submission of the report to the commission, or a longer period of time allowed by the commission upon a showing of good cause, the officer may submit a written response to the commission, a copy of which shall be simultaneously provided to the officer's employing agency. (3) Assessment and Determination by Commission. (a) The division of certification shall render an initial determination as to whether an officer possesses good character and fitness for employment, in accordance with any protocols adopted by the commission, upon giving due consideration to all information available to it including, but not limited to, the following: 1. An attestation that an officer possesses good character and fitness for employment and accompanying information; 2. Any report by an employing agency of the type described in 555 CMR 7.05(2)(c); and 3. Any response by an officer of the type described in 555 CMR 7.05(2)(d). (b) The division of certification may, to the extent reasonably possible, obtain additional information that may prove helpful in determining whether an officer possesses good character and fitness for employment. Consideration of Particular Matters. In rendering a determination regarding an officer's good character and fitness for employment, unless there have been allegations that an officer has engaged in multiple instances of similar or related misconduct or protocols adopted by the commission provide otherwise, neither the employing agency nor the division of certification shall consider an allegation of a particular instance of misconduct, where: (a) An authority has made a decision in the officer's favor on the merits of a complaint alleging such misconduct; (b) The alleged misconduct is currently the subject of a pending investigation or adjudication by any authority; (c) The officer has complied, or is in the process of complying, with any disciplinary action or other adverse decision by an authority, in relation to the alleged misconduct, and the officer has not engaged in any similar conduct since the discipline or decision; (d) The alleged misconduct did not result in either a disciplinary proceeding or court action, and the employing agency has not offered a reasonable explanation as to why no such proceeding or action was commenced; or (e) The allegation is not specifically and credibly supported.