Board of Fire & Police Commission

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, created in May 1972, is an official city board created under Quincy’s municipal code. It’s composed of three members appointed by the Mayor with City Council approval and meets regularly to manage specific aspects of police and fire department personnel and operations. 

• Hiring and Appointments: The board is primarily responsible for hiring members of the Quincy Police and Fire Departments. This includes:
  • Recruiting and evaluating applicants
  • Administering testing and interview processes
  • Appointing officers and firefighters
• Promotions: The board oversees promotions within both departments, ensuring that promotional processes (for example, moving a patrol officer up to sergeant or a firefighter to a higher rank) are conducted fairly and according to established rules. 
• Probation and Eligibility: When new hires or promotions occur, the board manages probationary requirements and determines eligibility criteria for departmental service. 
• Testing and Evaluation: The board administers entry-level and promotional examinations for police officers and firefighters, including written tests, physical ability tests, interviews and background checks. These structured processes help maintain professional standards in both departments.

The board has strong authority over personnel decisions, but it does not manage daily operations of the police or fire departments. Those responsibilities remain with:

• The Police Chief
• The Fire Chief
• Department staff and supervisors

(Their administration and strategy come from within the departments, not the board.) 

The board also isn’t typically involved in setting department policy or budgets. Its focus is on personnel systems and civil service fairness.

The Board of Fire and Police Commissioners plays a crucial role in:

• Maintaining professional standards
• Ensuring fair, merit-based hiring and promotions
• Supporting public confidence in police and fire services

By handling these employment aspects independently and systematically, the board helps ensure that Quincy's public safety workforce is qualified, fairly evaluated and selected through transparent processes.