Do the New Mexico state police officers have to reach a quota for writing citations?

The information was found after an anonymous tip led us to file a records request for a patrol plan given to some state police officers last year.

The record says, "Santa Fe officers are mandated to average a minimum of 100 citations and three DWI arrests per month, along with any other activity."

The same goes for officers patrolling Pecos.

According to the patrol plan, the consequences for failing to reach that quota include: "lower evaluations ratings," "loss of overtime privileges," and "loss of the ability to switch shifts."

Eyewitness News 4’s Jeremy Jojola asked Chief Faron Segotta about the mandate.

Jojola: “That sounds like a quota."

Segotta: “Well, it's not a quota. I can understand where the public may think it's a quota. It's just like anybody who works out (of) the government sector or the private sector. You're expected to put a work product out."

Chief Segotta calls it a “minimum performance standard.” He says all 12 state police districts in New Mexico have different standards depending on crime levels. Segotta says officers have other work to do that could sometimes prevent them from meeting monthly standards, which he says is fine. But Segotta is adamant; he says there isn't quota.


Link:http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s1448033.shtml?cat=516