NCJ Number
77166
Date Published
1965
Length
91 pages
Annotation
The current promotional procedures of the uniformed branch of the Massachusetts State Police are described, and suggestions for reforming these procedures are reviewed.
Abstract
The uniformed branch includes 603 police officers and operates as a semimilitary organization, governed principally by rules and regulations. It is not subject to the Civil Service law or to many of the administrative checks that regulate other State agencies. The promotions procedure is subject to two basic rules: for all commissioned officers, the commissioner is the sole appointing authority without restriction, and for noncommissioned officers, the commissioner is free to accept or reject recommendations from troop commanders for the promotion of officers from the grades just below the rank for which openings exist. It has been generally recognized that political sponsorship has become an important consideration for advancement decisions. A recent legislative proposal (H.R. 3745) would require a scoring system for promotions based on the following weighted criteria: a 1 percent credit for each year of service up to a maximum of 20 percent, a written examination counting 30 percent, a performance evaluation history worth 35 percent, and an oral interview counting 15 percent. Although this proposal has received much support, members of the uniformed branch object to the stress applicants experience on written exams and the oral board inquiry. Instead, they urge that promotions should be based on longevity, in-grade service, and a good performance rating system. The Massachusetts Crime Commission also favors a system based on longevity and in-grade service but suggests that recommendations of supervisory personnel also be considered. Other possible solutions are discussed, and the promotions procedures in three Federal agencies and in various State police departments are reviewed. A brief history of the uniformed branch is included, and tables, footnotes, and an organizational chart are furnished.