Legislation would exempt the Grafton Police Department from Civil Service
BOSTON – Today, Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury) and Representative David K. Muradian (R-Grafton) testified in support of legislation that would exempt certain Grafton Police Department positions from Civil Service.
The bill, H.4572, was filed by both legislators pursuant to a Grafton Town Meeting vote taken in May. As part of the legislative process, the bill received a public hearing by the Joint Committee on Public Service. During their testimony, Sen. Moore and Rep. Muradian cited the benefits to the Department and encouraged members of the Committee to act favorably on the bill.
“Removing the Department from Civil Service allows for greater flexibility within the hiring and promotional process,” stated Sen. Moore before the Committee. “Through a Town Meeting vote, Grafton residents have expressed support for a Civil Service exemption and this bill is a legislative response to pursue the community’s interests.”
“Exempting Grafton Police from the Civil Service law not only helps benefit the hiring process but also grants the department permission to administer their own physical ability testing,” said Rep. Muradian. “The department will also gain the flexibility to establish standards that can be tailored to the community, which in turn will further help aid the residents of Grafton.
Grafton Town Administrator Timothy McInerney, Police Chief Normand Crepeau, Jr., and Lieutenant Neil Minardi also attend the hearing to express the community’s support for this legislative initiative.
“The civil service system places the Town under state oversight in the hiring and promoting of police officers,” testified Chief Crepeau. “By removing the police department from civil service, the department will be able to recruit trained police officers or self-sponsored academy trained candidates, which could potentially save the town thousands of dollars in training expenses.”
The Grafton Police Department opted into Civil Service in 2000 and is currently comprised of 20 officers including Chief Crepeau, a detective, four sergeants, a lieutenant and thirteen patrol officers.
Pictured (L-R): Senator Michael Moore, Town Administrator Timothy McInerney, Lieutenant Neil Minardi, Chief Normand Crepeau, Jr., and Representative David Muradian.