Evaluation of Recertification Standards

Except as otherwise provided in 555 CMR 7.04, the Commission shall treat the statutory recertification standards as follows: (1) Attaining the Age of 21. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the officer attained the age of 21 at any point in time before the reference date for the officer. If the officer has not attained the age of 21 at any point in time before the reference date for the officer, and if the reference date is prior to July 1, 2024, the officer shall be conditionally recertified on the condition that the officer shall attain the age of 21 by July 1, 2024. (2) Successful Completion of a High School Education or Equivalent. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the officer successfully completed a high school education or equivalent at any point in time before the reference date for the officer. If the officer has not successfully completed a high school education or equivalent at any point in time before the reference date for the officer, and if the reference date is prior to July 1, 2024, the officer shall be conditionally recertified on the condition that the officer shall successfully complete a high school education or obtain a General Educational Development (GED) certification from an accredited program by July 1, 2024. (3) Successful Completion of Basic Training Program. (a) Regular Basic Training Other than Bridge Academy Training. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the officer successfully completed a regular basic training program (not bridge academy training) at any point in time before the reference date for the officer. If the officer has not successfully completed a regular basic training program (not bridge academy training) at any point in time before the reference date for the officer, the officer shall be conditionally recertified on the condition that the officer shall successfully complete a regular basic training program (not bridge academy training) within 90 calendar days or such other time as is allowed by the MPTC. (b) Bridge Academy Training. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the officer successfully completed bridge academy training at any point in time before the reference date for the officer. If the officer has not successfully completed bridge academy training due to a documented hardship recognized under commission or MPTC policy, the officer shall be conditionally recertified in accordance with commission policy. Where commission policy is not applicable, the officer will be conditionally recertified on the condition that the officer shall successfully complete bridge academy training by the date stipulated by the MPTC for that officer. (4) Successful Completion of a Physical and Psychological Fitness Evaluation. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the officer successfully completed a physical and psychological fitness evaluation that was required for graduation from an academy or training program certified by the MPTC or the training programs prescribed by M.G.L. c. 22C prior to the reference date for the officer. The commission will implement a policy concerning officers who were certified pursuant to St. 2020, c. 253, § 102 but did not successfully complete a physical and psychological fitness evaluation that was required for graduation from an academy or training program certified by the MPTC or the training programs prescribed by M.G.L. c. 22C prior to the applicable reference date. (5) Successful Completion of a State and National Background Check. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the following criteria are met: (a) A background check of the type described in M.G.L. c. 6E, § 4(f)(1)(v) was successfully completed at any point in time before the reference date for the officer; (b) The commission has received all disciplinary records as described by commission policy relative to an officer prior to the reference date for the officer; (c) The commission has received an attestation to certain key facts regarding the officer's background; and (d) The commission does not discern any basis, based on information it has received, for finding the standard unmet. If this standard is not satisfied because no background check has been conducted, the officer shall be conditionally recertified on the condition that this standard must be met within 90 calendar days. In all other circumstances where the officer has not satisfied this standard, the officer shall not be recertified, notwithstanding any provisions of 555 CMR 7.06 that provide for conditional recertification. (6) Successful Completion of an Examination. (a) Examination Part of Regular Basic Training (Not Bridge Academy Training). This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the officer successfully completed an examination required for completion of regular basic training (not bridge academy training) at any point in time before the reference date for the officer. If the officer has not successfully completed an examination required for completion of regular basic training (not bridge academy training) at any point in time before the reference date for the officer, the officer shall be conditionally recertified on the condition that the officer shall successfully complete an examination as part of regular basic training (not bridge academy training) within 90 calendar days or such other time as is allowed by the MPTC. (b) Examination Part of Bridge Academy Training. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the officer successfully completed an examination required for completion of bridge academy training at any point in time before the reference date for the officer. If the officer has not successfully completed an examination required for completion of bridge academy training due to a documented hardship recognized under commission or MPTC policy, the officer shall be conditionally recertified in accordance with commission policy. Where commission policy is not applicable, the officer will be conditionally recertified on the condition that the officer shall successfully complete an examination as part of bridge academy training within the timeframe determined by the MPTC. Possession of Current First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the officer currently possesses such certificates or the equivalent. If the officer does not currently possess such certificates or the equivalent, the officer will be conditionally recertified on the condition that the officer shall obtain such certificates or the equivalent within 90 calendar days. Successful Completion of an Oral Interview Administered by the Commission. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if, in accordance with commission policy, an officer is interviewed by, discusses a set of questions with, or discusses the officer's responses to a questionnaire with, the head of the officer's agency or the head's designee, or in the case of the head of the agency, the head's appointing authority. If this standard is not satisfied because of certain action or inaction by the employing agency, or because the officer was on approved leave, the officer will be conditionally certified on the condition that the standard is satisfied within the later of 90 calendar days or 90 calendar days following the officer's return to active service, as applicable. If this standard is not satisfied for any other reason, the officer shall not be recertified, notwithstanding any provisions of 555 CMR 7.06 that provide for conditional recertification. (9) Good Character and Fitness for Employment. This standard shall be deemed satisfied if the division of certification determines the officer meets the criteria set out in 555 CMR 7.05. If this standard is not satisfied, the officer shall not be recertified, notwithstanding any provisions of 555 CMR 7.06 that provide for conditional recertification.