Municipal Police Training Committee

This is a Massachusetts State Auditor performance audit of the Municipal Police Training Committee, covering July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2015.

“This report details the audit objectives, scope, methodology, findings, and recommendations for the audit period, July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2015.”

The auditor reviewed selected parts of MPTC’s work, including police training applications, training exemptions and waivers, training records, refunds, and inventory safeguards.

“In this performance audit, we examined certain MPTC activities related to the application process; permanent exemptions and temporary waivers from basic training academy; maintenance of basic training records; the process to refund fees to people who pay for, but do not receive, training; and the safeguarding of inventory.”

MPTC helps set and deliver training for municipal police officers across Massachusetts, so weaknesses in its operations can affect police training oversight and accountability.

“Each year, MPTC administers and delivers training programs to the Commonwealth’s more than 20,000 police officers.”

For residents, the key issue is whether police officers are properly trained and whether public equipment and reporting are being managed responsibly.

“Without the training, these police officers may not be aware of the General Laws, and they cannot enforce laws they are unaware of.”

The auditor found that MPTC met some requirements, but failed in four areas: involving nonvoting board members, filing a required report, ensuring timely orientation training, and maintaining inventory controls.

“MPTC has still not resolved deficiencies in its inventory process.”

The report recommends that MPTC improve its policies, reporting, staff training, and inventory procedures; MPTC’s responses say it planned or had begun corrective steps.

“MPTC should ensure that its departments conduct annual physical inventory counts, tag all inventory items, notify the MPTC procurement officer when items are moved or discarded, and update the inventory list as necessary.”

The audit points to a larger gap: MPTC did not have full authority to certify or decertify officers, and it could not fully track all officers or their complete training histories.

“Unlike state POST Commissions, MPTC does not have the ability to set minimum hiring standards or the authority to certify or decertify police officers.”

MPTC is the state body responsible for developing and enforcing training standards for many police officers in Massachusetts. POST Commission status would mean broader authority over police hiring standards and officer certification.

“POST Commissions are typically state agencies with authority to regulate standards for the hiring, retention, and training of police officers and to certify, or license, officers.”