UPDATE ON SENATE BILL S. 2800
Dear Local Presidents & NEPBA Members;
We attended the Worcester meeting of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Policy Group (MLEPG) yesterday and along with the other members of this united group of law enforcement labor organizations; we also met with numerous members of the Massachusetts State Senate, including Sen. Mike Moore, Sen. Ryan Fattman and Sen. Anne Gobi
Your voices are being heard. The Senate Leadership’s plan to hastily pass a sweeping police “reform” bill (S.2800) has been delayed slightly, giving the member groups of the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Policy Group much needed time to speak with Senators and educate them on the real issues at stake in S.2800. Your calls and emails have gotten us to where we are. We need you now more than ever. We need you to call and email again, specifically demanding that your senator support three amendments to S.2800 that are VITAL to making the bill fairer and more just. These amendments are not only vital to law enforcement, they will protect ALL public employees – Firefighters, teachers, clerical workers, building inspectors, Town and City Managers, and Department Heads.
Call, email, text, or tweet your senator and implore them to vote YES on:
Amendment #114 – Representation on POSAC
Amendment #134 – Opportunity for Appeal
Amendment #137 – Special Commission to Study “Qualified Immunity”
These amendments will be voted on in the very near future, possibly today if Senate Leadership is successful in stopping discussion. Let your State Senator know that you are paying attention to how he or she votes. BUT BE PROFESSIONAL!
Thank you again for your efforts to date. We are being heard. But we need to keep up the fight. The Senate will most likely vote on S.2800 this week. The debate, to the extent that we are able to force an open debate, will then move to the House. We need you to reach out today, and we will be calling on you soon to reach out again. This is an ongoing battle that we ALL must be committed to fighting to the end.
Find your Massachusetts Senator here.
Download a hard copy of this letter here.
PLEASE GO TO WWW.NEPBA.ORG FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS & OTHER NEPBA NEWS.
Fraternally,
Jerry Flynn
Executive Director
Chris Ryan
NEPBA President
Steven C. Panagiotakos
Lobbyist