Authorizing the town of Petersham to continue the employment of police department members Richard D. Cooley Jr. and David A. Shoemaker

The bill allows two police officers, Richard D. Cooley Jr. and David A. Shoemaker, to continue working in the Petersham Police Department until they reach 70 years old, choose to retire, or are dismissed. This is an exception to the usual maximum age rule. The town can check their mental and physical ability to perform their duties, and no additional retirement contributions will be taken from their pay. Upon retirement, they will receive retirement benefits as if they retired at 65.

MA H5110 is a house bill in the Massachusetts 194th General Court, sponsored by Aaron Saunders (D), currently “Passed” since October 9, 2026.

We track 6,558 Massachusetts bills this session, 21 of them sponsored by Aaron Saunders.

Proponents of the bill argue it respects the contributions of dedicated officers by allowing them to serve longer, guaranteeing experienced law enforcement presence in the community. It offers flexibility by considering individual capability rather than applying a blanket age rule, promoting fairness and acknowledging valuable service.

Critics might argue this sets a precedent of arbitrarily extending employment for select individuals, which could undermine standard retirement rules designed to ensure the safety and readiness of public service employees. There could be concerns about physical and mental fitness of law enforcement officers over a certain age, and potential increased liability for the town.