Bill > H2264

This bill authorizes the town of Duxbury to establish a special police force to assist the regular Duxbury Police Department, with members appointed by the board of selectmen and vetted by the Chief of Police for suitability and moral character. These special officers, who can include retired Duxbury police officers, will have the same powers as regular officers to make arrests and perform police functions, but they will not be subject to certain civil service regulations (specifically Chapter 31 of the General Laws, which governs civil service for public employees) or other specific statutes that apply to regular officers, though they will be subject to age restrictions and medical examinations at their own expense to ensure they can perform their duties. Special police officers will serve one-year terms, can be removed by the Town Manager, and are subject to suspension by the Chief of Police, and will be governed by the department's rules and policies, with retired officers serving as special officers also subject to limitations on hours worked and payments to prevent double-dipping.