COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — A recently introduced bill would prohibit the use of arrest and citation quotas for law enforcement agencies in Ohio.
A quota, as pertaining to House Bill 333 , refers to the mandate of a certain number of arrests or citations that a law enforcement officer must meet in a specific time period.
The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Reps. Bride Rose Sweeney (D-Cleveland) and Kevin Miller (R-Newark), would prohibit law enforcement officials and agencies from formally or informally using a quota system to “evaluate, promote, compensate, transfer or discipline a local or state police officer.” This includes offering a financial reward or any other benefit to an officer determined by their quota.
Miller, who served with the Ohio State Highway Patrol for over 20 years, said quotas can limit the amount of discretion used by officers.
“I just don’t believe that our law enforcement officers should be used to be generating revenue,” Miller said. “I certainly understand that as a result of writing citations there’s revenue generated, but that shouldn’t be the primary reason officers are out enforcing laws.”