Massachusetts § 60 - Intermittent or reserve police or fire forces; appointments to regular force
Full text of Massachusetts Massachusetts General Laws § 60 — Intermittent or reserve police or fire forces; appointments to regular force, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 60. Intermittent or reserve police or fire forces; appointments to regular force
Section 60. In any city or town having an intermittent or reserve police or fire force to which the civil service law and rules are applicable, original appointments to the lowest title in the regular police or fire force shall be made from among the permanent members of such intermittent or reserve police or fire force, as the case may be, whose names are certified by the administrator to the appointing authority. Names of such members shall be listed on the certification in the order of their civil service appointments to such intermittent or reserve police or fire force, or, if such order is not ascertainable, in the order provided by the appointing authority at the time of their appointments to such intermittent or reserve police or fire force; provided, however, that in a city or town having both an intermittent police force and a reserve police force, or an intermittent fire force and a reserve fire force, permanent members of such intermittent police force or such intermittent fire force shall, for the purposes of certification and appointment to the regular police force or the regular fire force pursuant to this section, be deemed to be members of the reserve police force or the reserve fire force of such city or town.
No person who has passed his fiftieth birthday shall be appointed pursuant to this section to the regular police or fire force. A member of an intermittent or reserve police or fire force who, after being duly certified on three occasions, refuses employment on a permanent basis in the regular police or fire force shall not be eligible for further certification for appointment thereto and, notwithstanding the provisions of sections forty-one, forty-three and forty-four or any other law, shall cease to be a member of such intermittent or reserve police or fire force, provided that the refusal of any such member to accept appointment to the regular force made while he was serving in the armed forces of the United States shall not be included among the refusals referred to in this paragraph. The appointing authority shall send to the administrator a notice of termination of service of any such member which occurs pursuant to this paragraph. Such notice shall set forth the occasion of each refusal and the date of termination of service of such member. The administrator shall deny any request of a member of an intermittent or reserve police or fire force that he not be certified in any instance for appointment to the regular force.
The provisions of this section shall not be deemed to prevent the appointment to the regular fire force of a city or town of a call fire fighter under the provisions of any general or special law.
Source: official Massachusetts text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts § 60
What does Massachusetts General Laws § 60 cover?
Section 60 ("Intermittent or reserve police or fire forces; appointments to regular force") is part of the Massachusetts General Laws, the codified statutory law of Massachusetts. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Massachusetts § 60?
A common citation format is "Massachusetts General Laws § 60" (Massachusetts). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Massachusetts law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Massachusetts official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
How does Massachusetts § 60 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Massachusetts can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Massachusetts.