to protect and serve;


Editor’s Note: Over the years, the NMA has received occasional contact from law enforcement officers who have complained about department policies, sometimes crafted to avoid direct violation of state anti-ticket-quota laws, which force officers to write a predetermined number of citations during each work shift. The following commentary recently submitted to us by “Officer Frank” is perhaps the most heartfelt and eloquent that we have seen on the topic. These are his words, altered only to protect his identity and location.  
My city has a small police department consisting of less than 50 commissioned officers. The population is under 50,000 surrounded by several hundred thousand more within commuting distance. A large portion of low-income minorities lives within the land-locked city limits.
As you read further, you’ll begin to understand why this is important information. Over the past several years, the police administration (due to pressure from the courts and mayor) has placed unwritten rules and conditions on our employment. That is a direct violation of our FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) contract and an officer’s sworn oath to serve and protect. One of those unwritten rules is what they refer to as “required contacts” objectives for all patrol officers.
Contacts are, simply put, traffic stops. Officers are required to perform traffic stops─yes I understand this is part of our job─or face discipline up to termination if goals are not met. Since the quota has been in effect, I have personally resisted by performing traffic stops but only issuing written or verbal warnings.
You see, the quota removes the individual officer’s discretion and forces him into an unethical position of simply generating revenue for the city under threat of losing his job, his livelihood. I worked very hard for many years to become a police officer. I earned an education and strived to meet the standards required for the occupation. During my time in law enforcement, I’ve earned my basic, intermediate, and advanced police certification as well. Yet all the administration cares about is how much money other officers and I make for the city. Many of us feel that the public good that we do is being ripped from us, and our lives are being placed in additional danger over the pursuit of revenue. It’s all about the money; even the mayor has indicated that fact in open city council meetings.......https://www.motorists.org/alerts/officer-frank-nma-e-newsletter-538/