Vanessa Hicks, Former NYPD Officer, Sues Over Ticket Quota

Thumbnail image for Thumbnail image for copcovermc.JPG
A former police officer is suing the NYPD for firing her for not writing enough summonses and not stopping and frisking enough people, the New York Daily News is reporting.

Vanessa Hicks' lawsuit follows last year's class action lawsuit filed on behalf of about 25 New Yorkers who allege they only got tickets because the police officer was trying to fill a quota. And it follows lawsuits by Police Officer Adrian Schoolcraft, and Officer Adil Polanco who claim the NYPD retaliated against them for objecting to the quotas and reporting misconduct. In addition, the Center for Constitutional Rights is suing the NYPD over its stop and frisk practices.

The issue isn't confined to New York. Last month, two Los Angeles police officers won a $2 million judgment against the LAPD for firing them when they objected to a ticketing quota.

Hicks claims that the trouble started after she argued with her sergeant. She says her bosses began to demand unrealistic quotas and reprimand her for bogus reasons.

"It was a job I always wanted to do," Hicks, 33, told the Daily News. "I wanted to do something to help my community, to make a difference. But I wasn't going to go out there and issue an 80-year-old a summons."

The NYPD claims Hicks was fired for insubordination, but her lawyer, Christopher Dunn, said it had nothing to do with that.

"When this is over, it will be clear there is a highly organized system of quotas placing relentless pressure on officers to write summonses and make arrests in the 42nd Precinct," Dunn tells the Daily News.

My Voice Nation Help
1 comments
jcwconsult
jcwconsult

And people wonder why normal safe driving citizens have such little respect for traffic laws when they get pulled over for driving safely along with the normal flow of traffic in a place where the posted limit is arbitrarily set 10 or 15 mph below the normal safe flow speeds. See the science on our website. Maybe you will join us to help get ALL traffic laws and enforcement procedures done for reasons of safety, NOT high revenue collections. James C. Walker, National Motorists Association, www.motorists.org, Ann Arbor, MI

From the Vault

 

©2013 Village Voice, LLC, All rights reserved.
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places New York

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city