At the Civil Service Commission, on the other hand, a hearing officer is assigned without input from either side. There are no minimum qualifications for commissioners, and the selection process is based largely on political considerations. The Civil Service Commission, on the other hand, is fighting to eliminate a backlog of 171 cases dating back to 1997. Civil service decisions are also easier to appeal and as a result, many cases are caught in a cycle of litigation that can drag on for a decade or more. The arbitration process has not been as popular with police officers as it has been with firefighters.
Many policemen continue to prefer having their cases heard at civil service.
I think Massachusetts police chiefs face more impediments to holding their officers accountable for their conduct than chiefs in any other state in the country.