Police On Defensive After Alleged "Ticket Quota" Scheme Revealed
Thursday December 14, 2006
For years, many G.T.A. motorists have been convinced police in the city are given ticket quotas, orders to hand out a certain number of fines per month.


Cops have always denied the charge, but this won't do much to convince angry drivers it's not true.


The Police Services Board is looking into allegations of a "25 and home" ticket writing scandal at 23 Division.


The scheme supposedly allowed officers who wrote at least 25 of the yellow tags on a shift to book off duty early and go home.


Details of the supposed system emerged after a veteran officer was acquitted of insubordination charges. He alleges he was charged when he refused to go along with the scheme.



Senior 23 Division officials insist it was anything resembling a 'quota' system.



"There was a platoon initiative that was very short-lived," explains Insp. Kimberley Greenwood. "Once it came to the attention of the management team, the initiative stopped."



"The initiative involved the over all performance of the officers. All issues were addressed and no quota was required."



She refused to confirm officers were allowed to go home after writing the required fines, and notes that the initiative to 'motivate officers' was stopped after just two weeks.



Coun. Pam McConnell of the Police Services Boards assures the practice won't be taking place in the future.



"Well, they won't be getting it any more if they have been. It is not in policy or procedure, not in the collective agreement," she assures.



The news didn't sit well with Torontonians.



"I am a teacher. I can't go home early," said one local. "We want them on the street for they are entire shift, making sure people are safe."