The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Executive Office of Public Safety and Security

Municipal Police Training Committee
42 Thomas Patten Drive, Randolph, Massachusetts 02368
Tel: (781) 437-0300
Fax: (781) 963-0235
MAURA T. HEALEY TERRENCE M. REIDY
Governor Secretary of Public Safety
and Security

KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL ROBERT J. FERULLO, JR.

Lieutenant Governor Executive Director

June 23, 2023

Re: Municipal Police Training Committee Exam Integrity

Dear Chiefs,

I write to inform you about reported violations of the Municipal Police Training Committee
(MPTC) recruit training policies and procedures. Recently, the MPTC uncovered that several
officers in the Holyoke and Boylston academies compromised the integrity of testing procedures
and materials in violation of our agency’s honor code and academy policies. The MPTC demands
a high standard of academic integrity and excellence from our staff members and student officers.
Failure to comply with these standards is a serious matter, requiring a comprehensive and
transparent review of the facts and circumstances.

The investigation into this matter remains ongoing. To date, the MPTC has taken the following
corrective actions:

1. The MPTC promptly began an initial investigation to identify any students who
violated academy policy and the honor code. Per MPTC regulations, students found to
be in violation will face appropriate disciplinary actions up to and including academy
dismissal.1

2. With the assistance of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the MPTC
will retain the services of an independent investigator to conduct a comprehensive
review of this matter to identify the extent of any misconduct and provide policy
recommendations. Additionally, MPTC has communicated with the Peace Officer
Standards and Training (POST) Commission to ensure a collaborative and
cooperative investigation moving forward.

1
Four student officers have already been disciplined, including dismissal from the academy. The MPTC will
continue to evaluate information as it becomes available and impose discipline where appropriate.
 3. The MPTC immediately suspended testing to conduct a thorough review of policies
and procedures and has proactively implemented the following measures to enhance
testing security and ensure the integrity of the testing process, including:

• Created new course quiz and test questions

• Increased proctor to student ratios for all testing rooms
• Enhanced test-taking software to include additional security measures
• Require student officers to review and re-sign the pledge adhering to MPTC's
honor code before every exam

The values of personal and professional integrity, self-discipline, and ethical decision-making
principles are fundamental to a successful career in policing and an officer’s ability to serve the
community. At MPTC, those values are held in the highest regard and serve as a guiding principle
for all we do. To that end, we reaffirm our commitment to addressing this matter comprehensively
and transparently while ensuring all appropriate steps are taken to uphold academic integrity and
prevent future violations. We appreciate your support and understanding as we navigate this
challenging situation. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please do not
hesitate to contact me directly.

Respectfully,

Robert Ferullo (Ret. Police Chief)

MPTC Executive Director