PRESS RELEASE: MASSACHUSETTS QUALIFIED IMMUNITY COMMISSION
January 6, 2022
TO: ALL MEDIA OUTLETS
FR: LT. CHRISTOPHER S. RYAN, COMMISSIONER
RE: MASSACHUSETTS QUALIFIED IMMUNITY COMMISSION
The following is the official Press Release of the New England Police Benevolent
Association, (New England PBA) the largest all exclusive law enforcement labor
organization in the New England region, representing well over 200 law enforcement
agencies.
New England PBA President Christopher S. Ryan is an active law enforcement
professional with the Massachusetts Port Authority Police Department. Lt. Ryan was
appointed by Massachusetts Governor Charles Baker as a Commissioner on the
Qualified Immunity Commission.
According to Commissioner Ryan, “The majority of the commission voted to
recommend a two-year review of the implementation and administration of Chapter
253 of the Acts of 2020 (commonly known as Police Reform Law) before
recommending any changes to the qualified immunity doctrine.” Commissioner Ryan
further stated, “This will give appropriate time to fit/ly implement the reforms, then
analyze and measure the impact they have made in the Commonwealth.
More importantly, Commissioner Ryan was a vocal critic of amending the
Massachusetts Civil Rights Act stating, “As far as amending the Massachusetts Civil
Rights Act, I voted against {hose recommendations due to it being outside the scope
of this commission. Furthermore, the potential financial consequences and impact to
our municipalities, as well as the increased work load to our already overworked
court system will undoubtable have significant impact to the taxpayers of the
Commonwealth. This issue needs to be studied and vetted accordingly with further
input and appropriate notice to the general public.