S 2939

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3637  FILED ON: 1/30/2026
  SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2939
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _________________
  PRESENTED BY:
  Kelly A. Dooner and Justin Thurber
  _________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
   Court assembled:
   The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to the appointment of retired police officers as special police officers in the town
  of Dighton.
  _______________
  PETITION OF:
NAME:  DISTRICT/ADDRESS:
Kelly A. Dooner  Third Bristol and Plymouth
Justin Thurber  5th Bristol  1/30/2026
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  SENATE DOCKET, NO. 3637  FILED ON: 1/30/2026
  SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2939
By Mrs. Dooner and Mr. Thurber of Somerset, a joint petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.
2939) of Kelly A. Dooner and Justin Thurber (by vote of the town) for legislation relative to the
appointment of retired police officers as special police officers in the town of Dighton. Public
Service. [Local Approval Received.]
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  _______________
  In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
  (2025-2026)
  _______________
An Act relative to the appointment of retired police officers as special police officers in the town
of Dighton.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the Board of
2 Selectmen in the town of Dighton may appoint, as the Police Chief considers necessary, POST
3 certified retired police officers as special police officers to perform police details or police duties
4 arising therefrom or during the course of the police detail work, whether or not related to the
5 detail work. Such retired police officers shall have been regular police officers and voluntary
6 retired based on superannuation. The special police officers shall not be subject to the maximum
7 age restrictions applied to regular police officers under Chapter 32 of the General Laws but shall
8 not be eligible to serve as special police officers if they have reached the age of 70. Such special
9 police officer shall pass a medical examination by a physician or other certified professional
10 chosen by the Town to determine that the officer is capable of performing the essential duties of
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11 special police officer, the cost of which shall be borne by the special police officer, prior to
12 performing police details.
13SECTION 2. Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall not be subject to
14 chapter 31 of the General Laws, Section 85H and 85H1/2 of chapter 32 of the General Laws,
15 sections 99A, 100 and 111F of chapter 41 of the General Laws, or chapter 150E of the General
16 Laws. Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall be subject to chapter 151A of
17 the General Laws.
18SECTION 3. Special police officers appointed under this act shall, when performing the
19 duties under section 1, have the same power to make arrests and to perform other police
20 functions as do regular police officers of the town of Dighton.
21SECTION 4. Special police officers shall be re-appointed annually, subject to removal by
22 the Board of Selectmen at any time with 14 days’ written notice except in cases where the Police
23 Chief determines that immediate action is necessary to protect the public safety. Upon request,
24 the Police Chief shall provide reasons for removal in writing.
25SECTION 5. Special police officers appointed pursuant to this act shall be subject to the
26 rules and regulations, policies and procedures and requirements of the Police Department and
27 Police Chief of the town of Dighton, including restrictions on the type of detail assignment,
28 requirements regarding medical examinations to determine continued capacity to perform the
29 duties of a special police officer, requirements for training, requirements for firearm licensing
30 and qualification and requirements regarding uniforms and equipment. Compliance with all
31 requirements shall be a no cost to the Town. Special Police officers shall not be subject to section
32 96B of chapter 41 of the General Laws.
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33SECTION 6. Special police officers appointed under this act shall be sworn before the
34 Town Clerk of the town of Dighton who shall keep a record of all such appointments.
35SECTION 7. Appointment as a special police officer pursuant to this act shall not entitle
36 any officer to assignment to any specific detail or type of detail.
37SECTION 8. Retired police officers serving as special police officers under this act shall
38 be subject to the limitations on hours worked and on payments to retired town employees
39 pursuant to paragraph (b) of section 91 of chapter 32 of the General Laws.
40SECTION 9. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
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