The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association is laying out its agenda for 2019.
Mark Leahy is the group’s executive director. He says its biggest victory in 2018 was seeing Gov. Charlie Baker sign legislation that expands local recruitment and training resources. Leahy says the MCOPA has been pushing for it for decades. Now, he says the group has its sights on other legislative goals.
“We’re trying to make sure that when our officers access counseling for any post-traumatic stress, that it will be confidential and remain confidential so that they’ll access those services,” he told WAMC.
The proposed law would also affect firefighters and EMTs. Leahy says the MCOPA is also working toward 100 percent disability coverage for officers who experience career-ending injuries on the job. The group says it’s identified over 40 examples in the last 50 years.
