North Reading Police Hires Now Exempt from Civil Service Law

NORTH READING, MA — New hires at the North Reading Police Department will no longer be subject to the state's Civil Service law, after Gov. Charlie Baker signed new legislation on Jan. 3.

The bill which Baker signed exempts all police officer positions in town from the provisions of the Civil Service law, according to a joint statement from local lawmakers. The new law allows the town to implement its own hiring, promotional and disciplinary practices for the police department, a move which town officials believe will expand the pool of qualified candidates for vacancies at the department.

“The bill signed by Governor Baker today fulfills the provisions of the Memoranda of Agreement negotiated by the town and its police unions, and will provide North Reading with greater flexibility and control over the hiring and promoting of police officers moving forward,” said Representative Bradley H. Jones in a statement.

The bill does not affect the existing civil service status of any police officer already employed by the town, including the police chief. The exemption was approved unanimously at Town Meeting on Oct. 17.

“I am pleased to have worked with Representative Jones and North Reading officials on this bill,” said Senator Bruce Tarr said in a statement. “The town can now go forward with greater range of options for managing its police force.”

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