MAP members need to be aware that the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) is attempting to force a new standard on police officer discipline in Michigan. That may sound fine on the surface, but MCOLES if successful, would have the authority to over rule an arbitrator's back to work order.

MCOLES is seeking the authority to revoke an officer's license for "violations of the public trust". What is a violation of the public trust? No one, including MCOLES has been able to define what this term means.

Currently MCOLES can revoke an officer's license for convictions of a felony. It has the ability to suspend for up to one-year an officer's license for a conviction of certain misdemeanors. The change sought by MCOLES would certainly go well beyond the current standards.

MAP is aware of this and is standing firmly against it. The member organizations of MAP are also opposed to this change. Joining us, in an unprecedented alliance against this foolish proposal, is the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) and the Michigan Municipal League (MML). Both of these organizations are typically management oriented, but both see this attempt as dangerous to the law enforcement community.

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