Massachusetts General Laws
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 268, § 6A (2026)
False written reports by public officers or employees
✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 6A. Whoever, being an officer or employee of the commonwealth or of any political subdivision thereof or of any authority created by the general court, in the course of his official duties executes, files or publishes any false written report, minutes or statement, knowing the same to be false in a material matter, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1969–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Cohen, 921 N.E.2d 906 (Mass. 2010).
Commonwealth v. Cohen, 921 N.E.2d 906 (Mass. 2010). “265, § 25; filing a false police report, G. L. c. 268, § 6A; and two charges of witness intimidation, G.”
City of Pittsfield v. Local 447 Int'l Bhd. of Police Officers, 107 N.E.3d 1137 (Mass. 2018). “The city cites a public policy that requires police officers "to be truthful in all of their official dealings," which is necessary for "the police to gain and preserve the public trust [and] maintain public confidence" (citation omitted).”
Commonwealth v. Durling, 551 N.E.2d 1193 (Mass. 1990). “G. L. c. 268, § 6A. In our view, this significantly bolsters the reliability of the reports.”
Commonwealth v. Balicki, 762 N.E.2d 290 (Mass. 2002). “266, § 67B; making a material statement that is false, omitting or concealing a material fact in a written statement, or using a trick, scheme, or device that is misleading in violation of G. L. c. 266, § 67A; forgery in violation of G.”
Fisher v. Lint, 868 N.E.2d 161 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007). “See G. L. c. 268, § 6A. Although the trial board is not bound by the strict rules of evidence, rule § 6.”
City of Boston v. Boston Police Patrolmen's Ass'n, 824 N.E.2d 855 (Mass. 2005). “See also G. L. c. 268, § 6A (criminalizing false police reports); G.”
Costa v. Fall River Hous. Auth., 903 N.E.2d 1098 (Mass. 2009). “The question remains whether the hearsay evidence introduced at the grievance panel hearing was sufficiently reliable to serve as the basis for the panel’s termination decision. As to the police report of Detective Huard, we conclude that it was.”
Commonwealth v. Apalakis, 486 N.E.2d 669 (Mass. 1985). “12 We do not rule as to whether, after disposition of this appeal, prosecution of the defendant under G. L. c. 268, § 6A, would place him twice in jeopardy.”
Triplett v. Town of Oxford, 791 N.E.2d 310 (Mass. 2003). “268A, § 17), filing a false report (G. L. c. 268, § 6A), improperly accepting money for dismissing an application for a criminal complaint (G.”
Commonwealth v. Fortuna, 951 N.E.2d 687 (Mass. App. Ct. 2011). “Compare G. L. c. 268, § 6A (making it a crime for “an officer or employee of the commonwealth or of any political subdivision thereof” to knowingly file a false written report).”
McNamee v. Jenkins, 754 N.E.2d 740 (Mass. App. Ct. 2001). “The filing of a false police report is a misdemeanor under G. L. c. 268, § 6A, and the “[i]mputation of criminal conduct is defamatory per se.”
Commonwealth v. McGowan, 510 N.E.2d 239 (Mass. 1987). “In that case, where the defendant, an employee of the Registry of Motor Vehicles, executed a genuine document but included in it a false statement, the court held there was no forgery proven and pointed to G. L. c. 268, § 6A (1984 ed.), *390 concerning the illegal making of a…”
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