Fatality Investigation in MA...

[Munlaw]

I heard that only MASS State Police, and the Cities Police Forces of Boston and Springfield were the only Police Forces authorized to investigate non-mvc fatalities in MA, is that true ?

[krash131]

I heard that only MASS State Police, and the Cities Police Forces of Boston and Springfield were the only Police Forces authorized to investigate non-mvc fatalities in MA, is that true ?

That may or may not be true. I can ask around. I believe that the MSP may have to be notified about a fatality.

[george4]

There is no requirement that the MSP be notified about traffic crash fatalities. They still have statutory authority in cases involving homicides/unattended deaths. I believe that there was a recent very public disagreement over whether or not Boston PD or the State would handle homicides in Boston.

I remember the DA deciding that the State would have primary authority. Like most counties, the State has primary authority and the local detectives assist them. The bottom line is, in most cases the State has better resources from everything from evidence collection to interviewing witnesses.

Also, the State detectives that do these investigations work for the DA's office in their particular county. I need not say more, do the math on that one.

[BSC07]

I believe the disagreement between Boston PD and State Police was over who handled homicide investigations on Transit property. The courts ruled that they belonged to the State Police. I could be wrong though.

[Deuce]

Per MV fatalities I'll only speak about my dept; Worcester handles all MV fatalities and does not have to notify MSP. However, that being said, anything on 290 and MSP can have it..

And the only cities that handle their own homicides are Boston, Worcester and Springfield. MSP has jurisdiction in all others. That's not saying troopers assigned to Suffolk, Worcester or Hampden County DA offices wouldn't assist if asked because they would and have.

[SinePari]

All non-attended deaths are handled by the DA's offices, which employ MSP investigators. This excludes Boston, Worcester and Springfield that state law allows them to do their own investigations. The MBTA property jurisdiction was a very public political volley between the BPD Commissioner and the Suffolk County DA for other reasons. It didn't really matter who handled it but the AG said the MSP will handle MBTA fatalities.

[Munlaw]

That's quite "European" for a DA/Prosecutor to be the official lead in a non-traffic fatality...Is this unique to MA in the US ?

[aaron1085]

I missed the original article with the details...anyone have a link? I'm not 100% on what happened to the trooper.

[OfficerObie59]

That's quite "European" for a DA/Prosecutor to be the official lead in a non-traffic fatality...Is this unique to MA in the US ?
If by "European" you mean liberal or progressive, welcome to Massachusetts.

[Deuce]

Obie??????