Frequently Asked Questions
- Be a U.S. citizen (birth or naturalized).
- Be a resident of Massachusetts.
- Be at least 21 years of age.
- Possess a High School Diploma or have a G.E.D. Certificate or
- Served at least 3 years in the United States Armed Forces w/ honorable discharge or release.
- Possess a valid Massachusetts motor vehicle operator’s license.
- Veterans
- Residents of Chelsea
- Children or siblings of fallen officers
- Applicants of certain racial/ethnic backgrounds (as required by federal consent decree)
- Take a written Examination given by the Comm. Of Massachusetts’ Human Resource’s Division
- Pass a comprehensive background investigation
- Pass an interview board
- Pass a Medical Screening
- Pass a Drug Screening
- Pass a Psychological Screening
- Pass a Physical Agility Test
- Pass a Pre-Academy Fitness Test
- Complete a 22—30 week police academy
The best way to commend the actions of a Chelsea Police employee is to write a brief letter describing the incident and the actions you think were exceptional. Information such as date, time, and location will help identify the employee if you do not know his or her name. Officers can also be commended through the use of the Smart Phone Application “MyPD”. If you choose not to write, or use the phone application, you may ask to speak with the individual’s supervisor and make a verbal recommendation.
Commendations received by the Chief are forwarded to the employee with a copy placed in his or her personnel file. Although our employees do not expect to be thanked for everything they do, recognition of exceptional service is always appreciated. This kind of feedback helps us to know if we are doing a good job.
An inquiry or complaint can be made by letter, telephone, or in person. Any police department employee whose duties involve public contact may accept an initial inquiry or complaint against personnel, procedures, or policies. If the inquiry or complaint is about personnel, you should contact the employee’s shift or unit commander. If the employee’s commander is not available, you may contact the on-duty supervisor. The supervisor will ensure that your inquiry or complaint is directed to the proper authority.
If your inquiry or complaint appears to be based on a misunderstanding or lack of knowledge of acceptable or desired conduct, procedures, or practices, the police department employee may offer an explanation. If you are not satisfied with their explanation, you may insist on speaking with the employee’s supervisor. Please be prepared to provide the date, time, and location of the event; the names of the police department employees involved (if known); and the name, address, and telephone number of any possible witnesses. All complaints of misconduct are reviewed by the department’s Internal Affairs Officer.
The Chelsea Police Department recognizes that social and physical disorder promotes criminal activity, whereas, social cohesion and neighborhood order foster more crime-resistant communities. They recognize the importance of engaging residents as partners in preventing crime and reintegrating police officers into the fabric of the community to help improve overall community-police relations. To this end, the Chelsea Police Department has established four Community Action Teams for the purpose of formulating the priorities for the Chelsea Police Department.
The Community Action Teams meet on a monthly basis at the following locations:
Sector 1 Shore Collaborative School 1st Tuesday of every month
Sector 2 Green Apartments (113 Spencer Ave) 1st Thursday of every month
Sector 3 St. Luke’s Church (201 Washington Ave) 2nd Tuesday of every month
Sector 4 Chelsea Police Community Room 2nd Thursday of every month
All meetings are held at 6:00 PM. Residents interested in participating in any of the Community Action Teams should visit the Chelsea Police Department’s website at www.chelseapolice.com for more information.