I don't see that your experience contradicts what I said.Chris wrote:and your theory about writing tickets is wrong. i've written tickets for 10mph over the limit, and i've given warnings for 60mph over the limit.
Kevin
DPS and ticket quotas
Moderators: carlson1, Charles L. Cotton
Just a news update from today. Feedback from S&W6946 or others who are knowledgeable would be appreciated.
Kevin
http://texarkanagazette.com/articles/20 ... news02.txt
Supporters rally for troopers
Thursday, September 28, 2006 10:10 AM CDT
Protesters says suspensions, firings are ‘harsh and unjust’
By LORI DUNN
Texarkana Gazette
Nine suspended Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers are receiving support from the community through letters to state officials, rallies and even a protest in front of the Texarkana DPS office.
About 22 people, including two retired DPS troopers, picketed for about an hour Wednesday morning.
Holding signs that said “Take Dishonesty Out of the DPS� and “It’s Against the Law, Stop DPS Ticket Quota System,� the supporters walked back and forth in front of the DPS office on Hampton Road.
“We’re here to support the troopers who have been suspended or terminated,� said retired DPS Trooper Coy Lorance.
Benjamin Dennis, president of the Texarkana Chapter of the NAACP, was one of the protesters Wednesday. He said he was participating as a private citizen and not as a member of the NAACP. However, he said “ticket quotas and racial profiling are issues the organization is concerned with.� He said when quotas are in place, innocent people are sometimes targeted for traffic stops.
“These are issues that go to the heart of civil rights,� he said.
Tom Vinger, a spokesman for DPS in Austin, declined to comment on the protest because of the ongoing investigation.
The troopers in question, who all worked in the highway patrol division of the Bowie County DPS Office, were suspended earlier this month as part of an administrative investigation.
Several of them have also been served termination papers and are in the appeals process. Supporters say the investigation allegedly involves quotas.
“Everybody’s stance is this: We don’t agree with what these troopers did, but the punishment is harsh and unjust. We feel it is very unfair,� said former Texarkana police officer Jimmy Green.
DPS has declined to release the reason for the investigation except to say it stemmed from an administrative complaint. Sources close to the investigation claim the reason involves discrepancies in writing warnings for traffic violators.
The troopers are allegedly pressured to write a certain number of tickets per work shift and in instances when they do not meet that quota, they change the dates on warnings they have already written.
Vinger denied the use of a quota system at DPS.
“We don’t have any quotas at DPS. However, management expects troopers to show evidence they have engaged in traffic enforcement, which includes writing citations,� he said.
Kathy Walt, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry’s office, also said a quota system would be “highly inappropriate.� She said Perry does not believe such a quota system is in place.
Supporters of the suspended troopers say the practice of meeting quotas is a common one across the state of Texas and the Bowie County troopers should not be punished so harshly for something they are pressured to do.
A number of Bowie County elected officials along with some private citizens are writing letters in support of the troopers to DPS Director Thomas Davis Jr. and to Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
“We feel that the terminations are inconsistent and are outrageous for administrative violations, when more serious violations have gone unpunished or have received very light treatment. In addition this entire manner needs to be investigated by unbiased persons, so that taxpayers of this state and county are not getting shortchanged by the Department of Public Safety,� said a letter addressed to Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. The letter was signed by the citizens of Bowie County, Texas.
A spokesman for Dewhurst’s office could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.
In a letter addressed to DPS Director Thomas Davis Jr., the six Bowie County Commissioners wrote, “The troopers we have now are dedicated and proficient law enforcement officers that serve and protect our county in a very professional way.�
The commissioners wrote that while they “do not support dishonesty or misrepresentation by these officers or anyone else,� they feel the punishment has been too harsh.
“We feel that reprimanding those involved is needed and proper, however these officers have always responded to our needs immediately when they arise whether it is a large wreck or natural disaster.�
The letter said that Bowie County has had three major disasters since 1990 and each time “DPS has responded effectively and expeditiously.�
“When your investigation is completed and if corrective action is needed, we hope that such can be accomplished short of the loss of employment by our troopers.�
Six Bowie County mayors—James Bramlett of Texarkana, Johnny Branson of New Boston, Michael Babb of Hooks, Paul Meadows of DeKalb, Mike Huddleston of Wake Village and Henry Slaton of Nash—addressed the issue of “infractions that have been alleged.�
“However, it is our firm opinion that these troopers were under undue stress to bring their number up. The word ‘quotas’ was never used but I think they understand what is expected,� the letter said.
The letter said if only one or two troopers had been involved, they should be held personally accountable but since the number is higher it indicates a much larger program.
“The problem may be further up the food chain and not a situation confined to Bowie County,� the letter said.
The six mayors wrote that dishonesty is not a desirable quality in any profession but they strongly oppose the termination of the officers.
“Whenever we have needed assistance, we have never been disappointed with the response we have received from any of these troopers. Here in Northeast Texas we have had tornadoes, an ice storm and a one-hundred year flood, to mention a few, that have required DPS assistance. We have never had to ask for their help, it has come willingly and quickly,� the letter said.
Judge Gibson L. “Hoot� Hadaway wrote in his letter to Davis that if the officers had been supervised, “the problem at hand would have been detected and corrected.�
Wake Village Police Chief Tony Estes wrote that most local police agencies are small and often require the assistance of DPS troopers.
“The troopers are great about providing us backup when needed. Several times we have had major accidents and the troopers are more than willing to go the extra mile in lending their aid,� he said.
Bowie County Justice of the Peace Nancy Talley described the troopers as “caring, proficient and of high character.�
“As you well know, these men and women have to wade through angry citizens, fatalities, homicides, disasters and other atrocities with dignity coupled to efficiency. If it were not for the experience and dedication of the Texas State Troopers then I would be afraid to venture a guess as to the outcome of some of these accidents and crime scenes that have been worked locally,� she wrote.
Talley also pointed out that the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department has lost many police officers with vast experience because of policies that proved to be inconsistent with reality.
“This comment is only to portray the importance of experience and dedication rather than timelines and what looks good on paper. In this day and time, we need the experience we now have on the street and not at the house.�
Supper Support
Some supporters of the troopers—including retired troopers—are holding a chili supper and rally at 6 p.m. today at the Strickland Barn on FM 1398 in Hooks, Texas.
Anyone interested in attending should take Interstate 30 west to the Leary exit. Turn right at the stop sign and take an immediate left onto Shiloh Road. Follow Shiloh Road to the stop sign and then take a right on Barkman Creek Road (FM 1398). The barn is about three miles down the road on the right.
Kevin
http://texarkanagazette.com/articles/20 ... news02.txt
Supporters rally for troopers
Thursday, September 28, 2006 10:10 AM CDT
Protesters says suspensions, firings are ‘harsh and unjust’
By LORI DUNN
Texarkana Gazette
Nine suspended Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers are receiving support from the community through letters to state officials, rallies and even a protest in front of the Texarkana DPS office.
About 22 people, including two retired DPS troopers, picketed for about an hour Wednesday morning.
Holding signs that said “Take Dishonesty Out of the DPS� and “It’s Against the Law, Stop DPS Ticket Quota System,� the supporters walked back and forth in front of the DPS office on Hampton Road.
“We’re here to support the troopers who have been suspended or terminated,� said retired DPS Trooper Coy Lorance.
Benjamin Dennis, president of the Texarkana Chapter of the NAACP, was one of the protesters Wednesday. He said he was participating as a private citizen and not as a member of the NAACP. However, he said “ticket quotas and racial profiling are issues the organization is concerned with.� He said when quotas are in place, innocent people are sometimes targeted for traffic stops.
“These are issues that go to the heart of civil rights,� he said.
Tom Vinger, a spokesman for DPS in Austin, declined to comment on the protest because of the ongoing investigation.
The troopers in question, who all worked in the highway patrol division of the Bowie County DPS Office, were suspended earlier this month as part of an administrative investigation.
Several of them have also been served termination papers and are in the appeals process. Supporters say the investigation allegedly involves quotas.
“Everybody’s stance is this: We don’t agree with what these troopers did, but the punishment is harsh and unjust. We feel it is very unfair,� said former Texarkana police officer Jimmy Green.
DPS has declined to release the reason for the investigation except to say it stemmed from an administrative complaint. Sources close to the investigation claim the reason involves discrepancies in writing warnings for traffic violators.
The troopers are allegedly pressured to write a certain number of tickets per work shift and in instances when they do not meet that quota, they change the dates on warnings they have already written.
Vinger denied the use of a quota system at DPS.
“We don’t have any quotas at DPS. However, management expects troopers to show evidence they have engaged in traffic enforcement, which includes writing citations,� he said.
Kathy Walt, a spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry’s office, also said a quota system would be “highly inappropriate.� She said Perry does not believe such a quota system is in place.
Supporters of the suspended troopers say the practice of meeting quotas is a common one across the state of Texas and the Bowie County troopers should not be punished so harshly for something they are pressured to do.
A number of Bowie County elected officials along with some private citizens are writing letters in support of the troopers to DPS Director Thomas Davis Jr. and to Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.
“We feel that the terminations are inconsistent and are outrageous for administrative violations, when more serious violations have gone unpunished or have received very light treatment. In addition this entire manner needs to be investigated by unbiased persons, so that taxpayers of this state and county are not getting shortchanged by the Department of Public Safety,� said a letter addressed to Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst. The letter was signed by the citizens of Bowie County, Texas.
A spokesman for Dewhurst’s office could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.
In a letter addressed to DPS Director Thomas Davis Jr., the six Bowie County Commissioners wrote, “The troopers we have now are dedicated and proficient law enforcement officers that serve and protect our county in a very professional way.�
The commissioners wrote that while they “do not support dishonesty or misrepresentation by these officers or anyone else,� they feel the punishment has been too harsh.
“We feel that reprimanding those involved is needed and proper, however these officers have always responded to our needs immediately when they arise whether it is a large wreck or natural disaster.�
The letter said that Bowie County has had three major disasters since 1990 and each time “DPS has responded effectively and expeditiously.�
“When your investigation is completed and if corrective action is needed, we hope that such can be accomplished short of the loss of employment by our troopers.�
Six Bowie County mayors—James Bramlett of Texarkana, Johnny Branson of New Boston, Michael Babb of Hooks, Paul Meadows of DeKalb, Mike Huddleston of Wake Village and Henry Slaton of Nash—addressed the issue of “infractions that have been alleged.�
“However, it is our firm opinion that these troopers were under undue stress to bring their number up. The word ‘quotas’ was never used but I think they understand what is expected,� the letter said.
The letter said if only one or two troopers had been involved, they should be held personally accountable but since the number is higher it indicates a much larger program.
“The problem may be further up the food chain and not a situation confined to Bowie County,� the letter said.
The six mayors wrote that dishonesty is not a desirable quality in any profession but they strongly oppose the termination of the officers.
“Whenever we have needed assistance, we have never been disappointed with the response we have received from any of these troopers. Here in Northeast Texas we have had tornadoes, an ice storm and a one-hundred year flood, to mention a few, that have required DPS assistance. We have never had to ask for their help, it has come willingly and quickly,� the letter said.
Judge Gibson L. “Hoot� Hadaway wrote in his letter to Davis that if the officers had been supervised, “the problem at hand would have been detected and corrected.�
Wake Village Police Chief Tony Estes wrote that most local police agencies are small and often require the assistance of DPS troopers.
“The troopers are great about providing us backup when needed. Several times we have had major accidents and the troopers are more than willing to go the extra mile in lending their aid,� he said.
Bowie County Justice of the Peace Nancy Talley described the troopers as “caring, proficient and of high character.�
“As you well know, these men and women have to wade through angry citizens, fatalities, homicides, disasters and other atrocities with dignity coupled to efficiency. If it were not for the experience and dedication of the Texas State Troopers then I would be afraid to venture a guess as to the outcome of some of these accidents and crime scenes that have been worked locally,� she wrote.
Talley also pointed out that the Texarkana, Texas, Police Department has lost many police officers with vast experience because of policies that proved to be inconsistent with reality.
“This comment is only to portray the importance of experience and dedication rather than timelines and what looks good on paper. In this day and time, we need the experience we now have on the street and not at the house.�
Supper Support
Some supporters of the troopers—including retired troopers—are holding a chili supper and rally at 6 p.m. today at the Strickland Barn on FM 1398 in Hooks, Texas.
Anyone interested in attending should take Interstate 30 west to the Leary exit. Turn right at the stop sign and take an immediate left onto Shiloh Road. Follow Shiloh Road to the stop sign and then take a right on Barkman Creek Road (FM 1398). The barn is about three miles down the road on the right.