Police Quotas - Real or Fake?

Question

http://digg.com/offbeat_news/If_A_Cop_Tries_To_Tell_You_There_Are_No_Quotas_for_Tickets_They_Are_Lying

read that and then tell me if you really believe police quotas are fake...


The police have quotas, but just call them by different names. a bunch of liars hmm. Plus they themselves break traffic laws like nothing. It was on dateline or something, where a bunch of cops were breaking the city's own traffic laws without second thought...just to take their lunch at a restaurant they blocked a fire hydrant and stuff.

Answer 1

Real!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Howdy,

Police quotas have been a controversial topic for some time. In fact, Ask Yahoo! answered this very question last year and found that while most police departments will deny it, some do have quotas (or "goals," or "objectives," etc.)

For example, New York City apparently has a quota system (according to an MSNBC article listed below). Ditto Cincinnati and Pennsylvania. Baltimore, on the other hand, apparently does not have quotas.

So, like a lot of questions, the answer here is "well, it depends." Some departments have quotas (though they probably call them something else), and some do not. Best to drive safely just to be sure.

Mike

Answer 4

We never had quotas, per se. We were however expected to be "productive", and the brass could only use statistics (e.g. numbers of arrests and numbers of tickets) to tell how productive we were.

There was never a specific number of tickets per day, week, or month that was expected, but an average Deputy made 6 arrests and wrote 30 citations in a month. There were others who wrote far fewer citations but made far more arrests, which was acceptable. Some wrote far more citations and rarely made arrests. That was also acceptable, but as a Sergeant, I knew that if a Deputy was writing no tickets and making no arrests, I would hear from the Lieutenant about it.

Anyway, you are correct to the extent that while no one calls them quotas there are expectations (essentially informal quotas).

You are also correct that the government breaks laws although in my experience that is hardly limited to the police. The entire government operates on the assumption that its own laws do not apply to it. There are far worse things going on than blocked fire hydrants.

Answer 5

I never worked on a department with quotas. All officers were allowed to write as many citations as they wanted. And it is a lie that the citation numbers are used in a lottery for prizes each month!

But as a citizen, how would you know if an officer is earning his paycheck each month if not for statistics? Do you want the officers to be held accountable to enforce laws or would you prefer they just show up on payday? Would you as a tax payer prefer paying an officer who issues 4 citations or 40 citations in a month? Which officer is earning the pay you so generously donate to the city?

Quota or not, the officer still must convince a judge of the violation or the driver gets off.

Answer 6

Each department is different, and yes, some of them do have quotas. But think about this way; how else could a department make sure that the officers were actually doing their job, which, of course is enforcing the law. Besides, quotas are only a guideline. I know of several officers who go above and beyond what is needed, which, means that they are doing their job.

I feel that if you have a problem with the quotas, then don't break the law. That way you won't have to worry about it.

Answer 7

I'm assuming you are referring to the ticket quota. Yes they are real. As far as police officer's breaking the city's traffic laws, yep I am sure they do but who is there to police the police? Our city installed a computer into the engine of all police cars. When they go over 65 mph the computer turns on and records how fast they are going and for how long. If it shows excessive use of speed then they cross refference it to the call that the officer was on and decide if the speed was justified or not.

Answer 8

Cops are people. Some people are scumbags. Therefore, some Cops may be scumbags too! Just like every profession, there are scumbags and nice guys. Different cities and towns have a different Chief. Some Chiefs run crappy departments and some run professional ones. It should not surprise you to learn that police are as diverse a crowd as our population. The fact is that most cities and towns do not have quotas however, if a cop is not out finding someone to ticket or arrest, their supervisor will complain and push them to catch a criminal.

Answer 9

As sure as the sun comes up in the morning, they have quotas. Why would they bother to do their jobs if they didn't? Also, they do break laws, but sometimes I am thankful of that. Some cops drive 5 mph UNDER the speed limit just to see if anyone will pass them. Of course, all the ******* around them drive the same speed, and I'm stuck behind them.. I'll pass one going under the limit in a heartbeat.

Answer 10

No quotas permitted in Texas

Transportation code - 720.002. PROHIBITION ON TRAFFIC OFFENSE QUOTAS. (a) A political subdivision or an agency of this state may not establish or maintain, formally or informally, a plan to evaluate, promote, compensate, or discipline:(1) a peace officer according to the officer's issuance of a predetermined or specified number of any type or combination of types of traffic citations.

Answer 11

no there are no quotas. but if a cop keeps comming back to the station saying "nope, no speeders today either" , or with half of what all the other cops get, he wont keep his job very long because it will be obvious that he isnt doing his job at all.