WORCESTER – The Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB) released a report on Thursday, Sept. 5, titled “Mass. Exodus from Civil Service: Examining Worcester’s Proposal to Exempt Police Leaders Amidst Statewide Shifts.”
The 30-page report eamines municipal police departments requesting exemptions from the Massachusetts Civil Service Law.
According to the report, “civil service laws were created to eliminate politically motivated employment decisions through merit-based standards for select public employees.” The Massachusetts Legislature has evaluated the civil service system several times since it’s implementation in 1884. In 2020, another commission studied the system in response to the growing number of departments seeking exemption.
Municipalities may seek exemption from the state’s civil service system for any department by petitioning the legislature. The legislature must approve the petition before exemption is complete.
Of 345 municipal police departments in Massachusetts, 44 are fully participating while 47 have exempted their entire police force, according to the report. Boston, Springfield, Cambridge, New Bedford, Fall River, Brockton, and Lawrence are among 15 departments that cover all positions except the chief of police under civil service.
The WRRB report looks at the key reasons why municipal departments petition to exempt positions from civil serve.
The City of Worcester sent a petition to the legislature on April 26 seeking exemption from the system for the chief of police and deputy chiefs.
According to Worcester Telegram and Gazette on Monday, Aug. 19 (paywall), and Tuesday, Aug. 20 (paywall), three deputy chiefs have taken to the Civil Service system to challenge the city’s process in selecting the next chief. They are Deputy Chiefs Sean Fleming, Edward McGinn and Carl Supernor.
The WRRB report provides a detailed overview of the timeline and evidence presented at a hearing before the Civil Service Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 20. It also covers the history of the city considering seeking removal of the chief and deputy chief positions over the last 25 years.
The report also examines municipal police departments participating in Massachsuetts civil service and the positions covererd, and compares the Worcester Police Department to others to identify peers should the city’s petition to the legislature succeed.
The full WRRB report is available for download on its website or can be viewed online here.
See “Worcester Deputy Police Chiefs Claim Entitlement to be Chief” in our columns section.
