Bill prohibiting arrest and citation quotas passes in House of Reps; awaiting senate

House Bill 131, which aims to prohibit Ohio law enforcement agencies from imposing quotas on officers for arrests and citations has been passed by the Ohio House of Representatives on May 28.

According to a media release, the bill was introduced to shift the focus of police work from meeting quotas to providing quality law enforcement and reenforcing a strong and positive relationship between police forces and the community.

This bill was introduced in late February by Ohio Representatives Kevin D. Miller (R - Newark) and Bride Rose Sweeney (D - Westlake) and featured cosponsors in Cindy Abrams (R - Harrison) and Juanita Brent (D - Cleveland) when the bill reached the House Committee.

The bill received bipartisan support across the house, with the committee voting nine-to-one in favor of the bill before the rest of the house voted in full support.

Among the many who voted in favor of the bill in the House of Representatives was Rep. David Thomas (R - Jefferson).

"It just makes sense," said Thomas. "This is a consumer protection and as we are grateful to our first responders we also need to protect our taxpayers and residents against unnecessary fines and fees."

Support for this bill came from organizations like Ohio Families Unite for Political Action and Change and the President of the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, Robert Butler.

"Quotas undermine the very foundation of our profession," said Butler. "They erode public trust by creating an environment where officers are pressured to issue citations or make arrests not based on the merits of each situation, but to meet arbitrary numbers."

The bill did not get unanimous support, however. The Central Ohio Chief's Association President Mike Crispin testified in opposition of the bill claiming it to be too restrictive and disincentivizing towards proactive policing.

"We urge the Committee not to prioritize the comfort of disengaged officers at the expense of those who consistently fulfill their responsibilities with diligence and integrity," said Crispin.

House Bill 131 now awaits the senate's decision. If the senate passes the bill, it will then be placed on Governor Mike DeWine's desk to decide.

Below is House Bill 131 as passed by the House of Representatives, along with the testimonies of both Mike Crispin and Robert Butler.

 

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