MASSACHUSETTS POLICE ASSOCIATION
This is the official website for the Massachusetts Police Association, representing police officers serving the people of the State of Massachusetts.

President's Desk -- The Work Continues After a lot of hard work by many people and all the police groups, we have been able to avert any immediate disaster. I'm sure that at the end of the week many people had to have cell phones surgically removed from their ears. read more -- James Machado Flag Man Issue Continues! MPA awaiting word from State House leadership that Transportation Bill involving Flag man Issue will go to Study Committee. We will keep our members alerted to the changes as they develop. The MPA is working with Union leaders As MPA President, I hope to avert any immediate change to police details. Working to send this to a committee for more in depth study! Rumors abound as to the outcome. We are confident we have made progress and hope to report a positive outcome! Stay tune for more details. read more -- James Machado

Clergy Police Academy fights crime in Worcester

(Katie Daly, NECN: Worcester, Mass.) - It's a police academy graduation. But they're not your typical officers. All the recruits are clergy leaders in Worcester.

20 religious leaders graduated from the Worcester Clergy Police Academy Wednesday. They'll team up with police officers to help reduce crime in the city.

The program is modeled after a police-clergy partnership that started in Fort Worth, Texas. It started after Hurricane Katrina to help thousands of refugees settle into the area.

Reverend Lance McLune works for the Texas based group called Uniting Clergy and Police. He came to Worcester to help launch the program .

These graduates will be expected to drive along in cruisers with police officers and work on various cases. One of their primary duties will be working at crime scenes to help console victims. It's an effort that could change the perception of clergy leaders.

Police officers expect this to be the first of many clergy police academies to come.

Washington DC Memorial Wall Dedications

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 -- MPA board members pay their respects at the Washington Memorial Wall. Members of the Massachusetts Police Association Executive Board have attended the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Police Week ceremonies and have been posting memorial placards at the police wall.. pictures...

House Pads Public Safety Budget With $12.9 Million More

Monday, May 5, 2008 -- Ignoring GOP concerns they may be overspending, the Democrat-controlled House voted 145-13 to add $12.9 million to the state’s fiscal 2009 public safety budget; doubles municipal police grants to $4 million, increases by $90,000 and adds various earmarks to the $257 million budget for the Department of State Police.

House Begins Budget Debate

Tuesday, April 28, 2008 -- On Monday, the House began budget debate looking first at the revenue side.The House budget differs in part from that presented by Governor Patrick.  The House only provides 2 million for hiring of new police while Patrick had proposed 8 million. The House did add 2 million to the 19 million the Governor had proposed for community policing. full article...

Cybercrime Initiatve - FREE Training to MPA Members - RESCHEDULED!

Wednesday, April 23, 2008 -- Attorney General Martha Coakley and Tom Ralph, Chief of Attorney General Coakley’s Cybercrime Division, will be hosting the next quarterly meeting of the Cybercrime Initiative at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Leominster Wednesday, May 28, 2008. 
read more on our new Training & Education webpage.

Bait and Switch/ New Language Lessens Local Control

Wednesday, April 09, 2008 -- After agreeing last week to language which would make local rules and ordinances as well as collective bargaining agreements the baseline for determining work site traffic enforcement, the Senate changed their position. On Monday, they very quietly changed the language to stating that the awarding authority would determine the rules. full article...

Patrick backs off talk of curtailing police details

By Associated Press
Thursday, April 3, 2008 -- Gov. Deval Patrick today offered tepid talk about reducing police details at road construction sites after a backlash from law enforcement unions and local officials over his plan to start using flagmen in some instances. full article...

Transportation Bill Proposed affects Police

The Senate proposes comprehensive transportation reform measures to contain costs and improve management and construction processes that wil help close the funding gap.
more news...

Proposed is revising the use of police details and cost reporting requirements to help and save $100 million during the next 20 years. Attached is a summary of the proposal.

House Releases Transportation Bill Without Flagmen

After working the halls for most of the day March 31, President Machado was able to keep flagman language out of the bill. As it stands now, the House will take up the bill on Wednesday to insure matching federal funds as well as Chapter 90 funds which go to individual cities and towns.

Although this is good news, the saga continues. We hear the Senate will take up the bill on Thursday and add flagman language. We have emphasized that the new language should not supersede collective bargaining and 150E or any local ordinances covering traffic safety.

We advise you to contact your local Senator as well as those on the transportation committee. They are as follows Senator Baddour ( Chairman) Methuen, Senator Joyce of Milton, Senator Petruccelli of Boston, Senator McGee of Lynn, Senator Montigny of New Bedford, Senator Timity Walpole, Senator Hedlund of Weymouth

	Treasurer's Ledger It's not always all about the money. Well, for our Treasurer John Christensen, it probably is. Check in and see what's going on in his office read more -- John Christensen

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