v. (2012)

Stephen N. Papleacos, Jr., appeals from a summary judgment dismissing his complaint seeking reinstatement after he was terminated from his position as a permanent intermittent police officer for the town of Tewksbury (town). Papleacos alleges that the motion judge erred in concluding that his probationary period was extended for an additional twelve months and that, therefore, he was not entitled to the protections of a tenured employee. Resolution of the appeal thus requires a determination of when, under the applicable statutes, Papleacos's probationary period began and ended.³

Background. Papleacos was appointed as a permanent intermittent police officer with an employment start date of October 27, 2003. He attended a regional police academy from October 20, 2003, through March 12, 2004.⁴ On March 16, 2004, Papleacos was appointed as an intermittent police officer for the town, and on March 18, 2004, he was sworn in by the town clerk. Based on the recommendation of the chief of police, the town terminated Papleacos's employment on October 27, 2004. See G.L. c. 31, § 34.

Discussion. At issue is the length of Papleacos's probationary period. Two different statutory provisions affect the probationary period for intermittent police officers—G.L. c. 31, § 34, and G.L. c. 41, § 96B.⁵

The town argues that Papleacos's probationary period began upon his original appointment with a start date of October 27, 2003, relying on the civil service unit certification handbook for permanent intermittent police officers issued by the human resources division of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, which explicitly states: “[T]he probationary period for ․ intermittent employees begins on the first date of their appointment, as recorded by the Appointing Authority on the Authorization Employment Form 14.” The town then argues that because, due to his attendance at the training academy, Papleacos did not actually perform the duties of the position for thirty days during that probationary period, the probationary period was extended, pursuant to G.L. c. 31, § 34,⁶ for an additional twelve months.⁷

Papleacos argues that his probationary period did not commence to run until he completed his tenure at the police academy. See Selectmen of Brookline v. Smith, 58 Mass.App.Ct. 813, 814, 792 N.E.2d 1050 (2003) (“time spent in the police academy does not count towards the one-year probationary period required before achieving tenure”). The premise of Papleacos's argument is that police officers, who are required to undergo training prior to beginning their work as officers, must be treated differently than other civil service employees. Accordingly, he argues that his probationary period expired in September, 2004, prior to his termination, and that he is entitled to all the protections of a tenured employee.⁸

Papleacos's argument is off the mark because the statutes involved—G.L. c. 31, § 34, and G.L. c. 41, § 96B—treat full-time police officers differently from intermittent officers.⁹ Reading those statutes in harmony, it is clear that the Legislature sought to distinguish full-time police officers from intermittent or reserve police officers. General Laws c. 31, § 34, first par., inserted by St. 1978, c. 393, § 11, provides, as to full-time employees, that “[f]ollowing his original appointment ․ a person shall actually perform the duties of such position on a full-time basis for a probationary period of six months.” The third paragraph of § 34 applies to intermittent employees and provides for a six-month probationary period “immediately following such appointment” (emphasis supplied). The third paragraph goes on to state that the probationary period “shall include the actual performance of the duties of such position.” That language is not present in the statutory language governing the probationary period of full-time police officers. For that reason, the town distinguishes this court's holding in Smith, 58 Mass.App.Ct. at 814, 792 N.E.2d 1050, which involved the appointment of permanent full-time officers.

We have no need to address this specific dispute, as we decide the question on another ground. General Laws c. 41, § 96B, requires that full-time officers undergo training at a police academy prior to exercising police powers. See 550 Code Mass. Regs. § 3.03(1) (1997). In recognition of the explicit training academy requirement for full-time officers, G.L. c. 41, § 96B, first par., as appearing in St.1994, c. 333, provides that full-time officers “shall be exempted from the provisions of chapter thirty-one” while undergoing training. See 550 Code Mass. Regs. § 3.03(1) (1997) (full-time municipal police officers). Thus, it reasonably may be inferred that this exemption would encompass the probationary period provisions of c. 31, § 34. No such exemption, however, appears for intermittent officers.

Conclusion. For the foregoing reasons, on May 3, 2012, we concluded that Papleacos's six-month probationary period started after his appointment on October 27, 2003, and properly was extended for twelve months when Papleacos did not actually perform the duties of the position for thirty days during that probationary period.

BROWN, J.