The Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that state troopers assigned to the Charles River Esplanade on July 4, 2026 must work and cannot be excused under a contract holiday‑leave provision.
The decision relies on state law that gives public safety priority and authorizes the police colonel to order duty during emergencies, superseding the contractual holiday clause.
The court also upheld a Superior Court judge’s earlier determination that the dispute was not subject to arbitration.