Report: Brooklyn Police Discussed Ticket Quotas
NEW YORK (1010 WINS/CBS 2/AP) -- A secret recording made in a Brooklyn police station reportedly caught supervisors discussing ticket quotas.
The New York Times says it got the hour-long recording, made by a police supervisor, this week. It says the recording was made during an April meeting of supervisors from the 81st Precinct.
"5 seat belts and 5 cell phones a week, 5 double parkers and 5 bus stops a week." That was the message that could be heard from one of the tapes obtained by the Times.
CBS 2's Derricke Dennis reports that the tapes contain a top commander, who told supervisors in a meeting last April to lean on officers to write more tickets -- or else.
"Cause after I bounce you to a different platoon for inactivity, the next thing is to put you on paper, start writing you for low standards, and look to fire you. I really don't have a problem firing people. I don't need to carry you," the voice on the tape said.
However, Deputy Commissioner of the NYPD, Paul Browne, said the tapes showed no indication of any wrongdoing or illegal quotas.
"What you're hearing on the tapes, assuming they're valid, is just good management," Browne told 1010 WINS. "These are minimum numbers they talked about, any member of the public if they just walk around the block would see the type of violations in a day never mind the month."
He added that the Times was "clearly confused and wrong" about the discussions on the tape.
"If you're in law enforcement, that means doing things like giving tickets and making arrests," Browne said. "We're looking for some net goal that indicates you're doing your job."
However, New York Civil Liberties Union Director Donna Lieberman said she has long suspected officers were writing tickets to meet certain numbers -- now she says there's proof.
"If its going on with regard to parking tickets, isn't it also happening, and we know it's happening with regard to stop and frisks," Lieberman said.
1010 WINS' Juliet Papa spoke with residents from the neighborhood and some said they believe there is excessive ticketing in the area.
LISTEN: 1010 WINS Reporter Juliet Papa talks with angry New Yorkers
"If you have to do alternate side of the street parking they may come a few minutes before the time is up and give you a ticket," one woman said.
One man said he was given a ticket which was written before the time expired on his muni-meter sticker.
Some Brooklyn residents also said they weren't buying the response from the NYPD.
"It comes a time of the month, where they just go crazy at times," Anthony Bryant said.
"5 minutes in Dunkin Donuts and they were towing my truck," Mildred Mercado said.
The NYCLU said it was considering asking the Justice Department or the state attorney general to investigate the matter.
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