PUBLIC HEARING / TRAFFIC CITATION QUOTA / ARREST QUOTA

Motion - For as long as anyone can remember, there have been rumors and allegations that traffic ticket quota system exists within the Los Angeles Police Department. Recently, the Police Protective League charged that a quota system for traffic tickets and arrests does exist, and that it is used to reward or punish police officers. It could be another urban myth and misconception, or one of City Hall's nasty little secrets. Regardless, if the rank-and-file police officers and the public simply believe that it's true, there is a serious problem that must be dealt with immediately. And the best solution is to seek the truth through an open public process. The Chief of Police, however, wants to deal with the PPL's charges in closed-door negotiations. That's wrong. There are other stakeholders, including motorists and taxpayers, who also have an interest in knowing the truth. THEREFORE MOVE that the Council's Public Safety Committee and the Board of Police Commissioners each hold open public hearings into the charges that a traffic citation and arrest quota system exists within the Los Angeles Police Department, which is used to reward or punish police officers.