Enforcement Counsel

Commonwealth of Massachusetts • Boston, MA

16h • Onsite

About The Position

The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission is an independent agency that oversees law enforcement departments and officers throughout the Commonwealth. The Commission is charged with the following:
Establishing certification standards for law enforcement departments and officers;
Determining whether those standards have been met;
Developing regulations and policies governing law enforcement;
Decertifying, suspending, or ordering retraining for, or imposing other sanctions on officers who commit misconduct or otherwise fail to satisfy requirements;
Maintaining, analyzing, and disseminating information regarding law enforcement; and
Conducting investigations, adjudicatory proceedings, and public hearings regarding such matters.
The Commission is governed by, implements, and enforces Chapter 6E of the Massachusetts General Laws. Pursuant to that statute, the Commission collaborates with the Commonwealth’s Municipal Police Training Committee in several areas of its work.
The Commission is looking for an experienced attorney to join the growing team of the Division of Police Standards (“Division”) as an Enforcement Counsel. The Division advances the Commission’s purpose by diligently investigating allegations of officer misconduct, and advocating for disciplinary outcomes that are fair, consistent, and engender the trust of both the public-at-large and the law enforcement profession. The Enforcement Counsel plays a leading and critical role in the fulfillment of these objectives.
Please note that pursuant to state law, no employee of the Division of Police Standards shall have previously been employed as a law enforcement officer, previously employed by a law enforcement agency or be a retired law enforcement officer or retired from a law enforcement agency. This provision does not apply to former federal law enforcement officers or former law enforcement officers from jurisdictions outside of Massachusetts.

Requirements

• Criminal, civil and/or administrative litigation experience.
• Ability to apply the laws and regulations pertaining to the Commission to a wide variety of factual situations.
• Ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently, productively, and creatively in a start-up environment.
• Appreciation for and commitment to the mission of the Commission.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Outstanding organizational skills and the ability to prioritize and complete multiple projects under time constraints and with available resources.
• Commitment to operating under the highest ethical standards.
• Strong work ethic and commitment to producing work at the highest levels of quality.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; an appreciation for teamwork and collegiality; and an ability to interact well with people at all levels within the Commission, stakeholders, outside counsel, outside vendors, and members of the public.
• Appreciation of the value of diversity and inclusion, and of the importance of interacting respectfully and sensitively with people of different backgrounds.
• Proficiency with computers and the Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and willingness to learn state- and Commission-specific systems.
• Experience conducting investigations and in making recommendations that will have significant impacts on the parties involved and that may garner significant public and media attention.
• Knowledge of modern investigative techniques and legal processes.
• A commitment to adhere to the "Residency and Work Location" requirements stated above.
• Juris Doctor Degree required.
• Admission to Massachusetts Bar.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in civil or criminal litigation, administrative law, regulatory matters, or a related field.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with adjudicatory proceedings (M.G.L. c. 30A, § 10, 11) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage a full caseload of investigations and matters in administrative litigation.
• Direct all aspects of confidential preliminary inquiries for assigned matters, including but not limited to, compelling the production of records and other materials, reviewing investigative and interview reports, examining witnesses under oath, preparing reports that clearly articulate the conclusions and determinations resulting from preliminary inquiries, and delivering oral presentations of investigative findings in a clear and concise manner.
• Represent the Division in adjudicatory hearings before the full Commission, a single Commissioner, or a hearing officer.
• Advocate for disciplinary outcomes that are fair, consistent, and in compliance with applicable laws, standards, regulations, procedures and/or policies.
• Alert the Director of the Division of Police Standards to any allegation which appears to require immediate action by the Commission, including, but not limited to, identifying any matter for potential investigation by means of a preliminary inquiry.
• Maintain open communication and work in a collaborative manner with other operational divisions and external agencies as necessary.
• Learn and keep abreast of the statutes and regulations relative to the Commission or impacting its operations.
• Produce high quality work in a timely fashion that meets established expectations.
• Perform other duties as requested.

Benefits

• When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
• Details may be found at: Commonwealth Employee Benefits and Rewards!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree