09/22/2017
Dear Constable,
The Massachusetts’s Constables’ Coalition (MCC) has been working hard on behalf of the Office of the Constable in Massachusetts to engage with the Legislature and the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS).
As many of you may have already heard, a recent trial held in Salem District Court resulting in an acquittal of all counts as to the Defendant in this case (Commonwealth v. Hines), has, once again, focused the Legislature and EOPSS on the issue of Constables and their powers and authority. Please find, for your information, that news article here: Salem District Court Verdict
Over the last couple of months, MCC has been participating in meetings with the Legislature and EOPPS to protect and defend the Office of the Constable in Massachusetts. Most recently, MCC has been working with EOPPS to provide feedback and subject matter expertise on many of the changes that they seek to make. Secretary Bennett has made clear his desire to eliminate the Constables’ enforcement authority in the areas of capias arrest, eviction, seizure, trespass and criminal powers, identification, and tools, among other issues. While the Secretary has been open to continuing to have conversations, as well as exhibiting open-mindedness with MCC around the impacts of those changes, this most recent trial outcome and subsequent press coverage, has once again negatively raised the issue of training, powers and authority of the Office of the Constable in Massachusetts. Additionally, Representative Dan Cahill, who filed the bill to alter and eliminate many powers of Constables, has been very responsive to discussion with MCC, relative to our concerns about the renewed push on the bill which he filed on behalf of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. Given this recent Salem District Court Trial, its outcome and the negative local press coverage, the push and resulting publicity, now makes the effort to see the proposed changes in pending legislation, now stronger than ever!
Here is what we know now:
EOPPS will be making recommendations to change the powers, identification, tools and authority of the Office of the Constable in Massachusetts; with a focus on Constables’ enforcement and criminal authority, as well as identification and tools (among other powers). The Legislature will seek to include those changes and recommendations, in a bill to reduce, eliminate and drastically change the powers and authority of Constables this legislative session!
As you may already know, MCC is not a trade association; we were formed expressly to advocate on your behalf to defend the Office of the Constable in Massachusetts and protect your powers and authority before the state legislature and state agencies.
The MCC provides you with the combined resources of our collective members to monitor, advance or oppose the legislative initiatives that could impact your Office. To do so, MCC has partnered with the successful and well-respected firm of Lynch Associates of Boston, MA to advocate on our behalf.
If defending your Office, the Office of the Constable in Massachusetts; retaining your powers, tools and authority, in order to professionally and safely perform your duties, is important to you, we ask that you “Join Us”, TODAY. We offer the ability to join us online, please visit www.constablecoalition.com.
Sincerely,
Scott Gonfrade
President
Protect the rights and authority of the Office of the Constable in Massachusetts by joining the Massachusetts’s Constables’ Coalition TODAY.
Massachusetts's Constables' Coalition
12 Post Office Square, 6th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
Constablecoalition.com
