Reps. Sweeney, Miller Testify on Bipartisan Bill Eliminating Quotas for Law Enforcement Officers

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Westlake) today testified in favor of House Bill (HB) 333, her bipartisan legislation with Rep. Kevin Miller (R-Newark) to prohibit requiring law enforcement officers to meet quotas. 

“Quotas limit the professional discretion that officers exercise in the course of their duties; they can encourage unnecessary encounters with the law, and they distract from the primary objective of law enforcement, which is and should always be to preserve and improve public safety,” said Rep. Sweeney.

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

“As a retired State Trooper, my goal was always to keep motorists safe and change unwanted behavior,” said Rep. Miller. “Sometimes this was accomplished with a citation, while many times a friendly warning would suffice. Our law enforcement officers need discretion versus an arbitrary quota system used to generate local revenue.”

House Bill 333 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 Representatives K. Miller and Sweeney 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,” Mr. Sakellakis continued. “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.”

A quota is a mandate for a state or local police officer to make a certain number of arrests or issue a certain number of citations over a specific amount of time, such as a month or a pay period.

House Bill 333 awaits further consideration before the Homeland Security Committee.