24 Transferred by LAPD Amid Tickets Dispute

Two dozen Los Angeles traffic officers, many of whom signed a declaration last fall complaining of being forced to write an illegal quota of 10 tickets a day, have received word that they are no longer working for the Central Traffic Division.

The officers, whose complaints are part of a police union lawsuit against the department, said they were told Tuesday that they were being transferred to other divisions because of “hostile attitudes, personality conflicts and poor productivity.”

Of the 17 motorcycle officers transferred Wednesday, 13 signed the declaration last October protesting that they had to average 10 traffic tickets a day or face possible disciplinary action, including demotion, several officers said. Eight accident investigators who will be transferred Feb. 28 did not sign the declaration.

Increase in Fatalities

“There is no doubt in my mind that this is retaliation,” said Officer Mike Partain, a 13-year veteran who has spent nine of those years in Central Traffic.

Police officials, however, said the transfers were warranted. Cmdr. William Booth pointed out that while traffic fatalities declined 2.5% citywide, they were up 13.5% in the Central Traffic Division.

“These are not retaliatory,” Booth said. “I don’t dispute the fact that the officers had good records but these are administrative transfers for the good of the department and, in some cases, for the good of the officer.”

Partain said the transfers, first reported by KCBS-TV, were unusual in that they were sudden and not at the end of a deployment period, a 28-day unit of time.

“We had heard rumors for the past month that there was going to be a big shake-up,” Partain said. “We came into work Tuesday and found a notice on the board that said effective tomorrow, Feb. 17, you’re going to be transferred. Get in contact with your new divisions. That’s how sudden it was.”

Partain and others disputed Booth’s explanation.

Partain said Capt. Ted Kozak, who informed him of the transfer Tuesday, had recently selected him as a candidate as “Officer of the Quarter,” honoring the highest producers in the division.

The Los Angeles Police Protective League, arguing that the department set down a policy of illegal quotas, plans to file a charge of unfair labor practices next week, according to union representatives. Police officials deny that quotas have been established.