Reps. Sweeney, Miller Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill Prohibiting Mandatory Ticket and Arrest Quotas for Law Enforcement Officers

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) announced this week the reintroduction of bipartisan legislation to prohibit ticket and arrest quotas, alongside her joint sponsor, Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark), a former State Highway Patrol Officer of 20 years. House Bill (HB) 131 defines a quota as a mandate of a certain number of arrests made or citations issued for any offense that a local or state police officer must meet in a specified time period.

“At its core, this bill is about public safety. Law enforcement officers' primary job is to protect and serve our community – they can’t do that if they are expected to meet arbitrary quotas that don’t reflect the safety needs of the community,” said Rep. Sweeney. “We want our law enforcement officers to be evaluated based upon the quality of their police work, not the quantity of tickets they can write.”

Legislation banning quotas has been enacted in 25 other states, including Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

“If the Ohio State Highway Patrol, arguably the most proactive law enforcement agency in Ohio, can operate with a quota prohibition, so can the other law enforcement agencies in the state,” said Rep. Miller.

HB 131 is also supported by the Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (OPBA) and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

“The Ohio Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association commends Reps. Sweeney, K. Miller for working to prohibit ticket and arrest quotas and avoid unnecessary conflict between law enforcement and the people we proudly serve. When agencies arbitrarily dictate a certain number of arrests or citations that an officer must issue to keep their job, the trust between the public and law enforcement, as well as the very nature of constitutional policing, is needlessly tested,” said George Sakellakis, OPBA Director of Organization. “Ohioans must be assured that any citation or arrest is valid, legitimate, and necessary. Police officers, sheriff’s deputies and troopers are true professionals who risk their lives to serve our communities, not revenue generators.  They got into this business to protect our neighborhoods, not occupy them. We are thankful that the legislature is tackling this important issue and urge them to pass this bill and end the practice of quotas in Ohio.”

HB 131 has been referred to the House Public Safety Committee for further consideration and awaits sponsor testimony.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A picture of Rep. Sweeney speaking during a press conference announcing the reintroduction of this legislation is attached to this press release. Courtesy: Ohio House Democrats