01 May 2008:

Police officers, chiefs spar over ticket 'quotas'

Cops say counting citations is no way to gauge their productivity

Thursday, May 01, 2008

BY MARIAM JUKAKU

Star-Ledger Staff

Police departments in a handful of New Jersey towns are implementing directives that require officers to write a minimum number of tickets every month. To the police chiefs and mayors in those towns, the directives are a good way to measure productivity, and officers who don't comply can face unsatisfactory performance reviews.

To some officers and the state Policemen's Benevolent Association, they're something else: quotas designed to generate revenue for financially strapped municipalities.

"We're not toll collectors, we're public safety officers," said James Ryan, spokesman for the state Policemen's Benevolent Association. "When the greater good is public safety, that's where (writing more tickets) makes sense. But (not) if there's no increase in traffic accidents, no increase in fatalities."

Ryan said five to 10 officers from departments statewide have raised complaints in recent months.

Mitchell Sklar, executive director of the State Association of Chiefs of Police, said departments can demand officers perform at the same level as peers and one way to monitor performance is the average number of tickets written.

"How could you otherwise look at performance? You can't subtract traffic or road safety from the duties of a police officer," Sklar said. "It's critical to manage day-to-day operations."

A 2001 state statute makes it illegal for any law enforcement agency to force police officers to make a certain number of arrests or citations. But it is legal to use an average number of summonses written when it is one of several criteria for promotion, demotion or dismissal.

And that's exactly what's happening in Fanwood.

At the beginning of this month, police officers in the Union County borough were told they should expect to write at least 27 tickets each month if they want to keep in line with the average set for the department. That includes parking tickets, moving violations and non-moving violations.

Police Chief Don Domanoski, who's been with the department for 31 years, said an officer's ticket-writing activity is just one criteria in a multifaceted quarterly evaluation.

"If you didn't hit those numbers in that quarter, not a problem," Domanoski said. "But justify what you were doing."

But Tony Espinosa, president of the local Policemen's Benevolent Association No. 123, said members of the union are wondering if the new directive gives officers less discretion in doing their job.

"We understand that as a police officer, writing tickets is part of our job," said Espinosa, who's been a patrolman with the department since 2003. "But we were never (before) strongly encouraged to go out and write that many tickets."

Fanwood is facing a 17 percent cut in municipal aid from the state and a shortfall in municipal court revenue. Mayor Colleen Mahr said she has asked each borough department to cut at least 16 percent of their projected expenses. She said it is up to department heads to determine whether that cut will include layoffs.

"In these fiscally tight times, we're looking at productivity and efficiency," Mahr said. "Why wouldn't we want to make sure that one of the largest departments is operating efficiently?"

Mahr said police officers who are performing up to the standards set by the department have nothing to worry about. She said they should expect to be evaluated like any other city employee.

In Ocean Township in Monmouth County, two police officers this year had warnings placed in their personnel files for not writing enough tickets. After receiving a complaint from the PBA, the police chief removed the warnings and rewrote the language of the evaluation, according to Luke Sciallo, state delegate for their local PBA.

He echoed concerns of officers in Fanwood that putting a number on an evaluation takes away an officer's discretion.

"We're not revenue generators for the town," Sciallo said. "Maybe (an officer) taught D.A.R.E. every day that week, maybe he stopped 50 cars and didn't give a ticket. You put a number on it, it's a quota."

Sklar said chiefs should be able to evaluate their officers any time they want, not just when the economy is strong.

"When is there not a budget crunch? If the only time you can re-evaluate the performance of your officers is during flush financial times, tell me in what century you'll be able to (do it)?" Sklar said. "Budgets are always tight."

Mariam Jukaku may be reached at mjukaku@starledger.com or (908) 302-1500.

© 2008  The Star Ledger

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22 April 2008: President Calls Attention to Shootings of Irvington Officers  The New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association President Anthony Wieners called outrageous the rising level of violence in Irvington. “Our police officers are the last line of defense for civility. For them to come under attack raises the risk level for every citizen in Irvington”, he said. Wieners went on to say, “two officers have been shot in the past two weeks. There have been over fourteen shootings in the past five days – the level of violence must stop.” He called for more officers to be hired immediately.

 Wieners also cautioned towns around the State to be cautious about financial cuts in law enforcement. “The public safety can not be compromised under these tough financial times”.

 Wieners planned to attend a 6pm rally in Irvington to lend support to the police of the city. The rally was scheduled for 6pm at 140 Prospect Avenue in Irvington.

10 April 2008: NJ COP SHOT $10,000 Reward Irvington Detective’s Shooting 1^st Case

01 April 2008: The pension problem - As stated to the readers of the Star Ledger by President Wieners

Testimony of Anthony F. Wieners
President, New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association
Executive Board Member, National Association of Police Organizations

“Supporting the Front Line in the Fight Against Crime: Restoring Federal Funding
for State and Local Law Enforcement”

U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226

February 27, 2008 2:00 p.m.

Good Afternoon Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Graham, and members of the Subcommittee.  My name is Anthony Wieners and I am a Detective with the Belleville, (New Jersey) Police Department.  I also serve as the President of the 33,000 member New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, and I am an Executive Board member of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO).  NAPO represents approximately 238,000 sworn law enforcement officers throughout the United States.  for the full text - click here