Officer Quits, Two Face Suspension in Ticket Probe

At least two San Diego police motorcycle officers have been recommended for suspension, and another has resigned rather than face discipline for allegedly padding reports with traffic citations that did not exist, sources close to the investigation said Thursday.

At least seven traffic officers are under internal review after an extensive audit within the San Diego Police Department showed discrepancies between tickets written and those logged in daily activity reports.

Those under suspension were not identified, but sources said Sanford C. Byerley, 34, an officer for 10 years, resigned rather than be disciplined.

Police spokesman Bill Robinson confirmed Thursday that Byerley was no longer with the department but said he did not know why.

Byerley worked in the traffic motors division, where motorcycle officers are employed.

The unit has been under investigation for several months after allegations arose that officers were logging citations in daily reports that did not correspond with the number actually served on motorists.

Assistant Chief Dave Worden said the investigation is still under way, but could not discuss specifics, citing state confidentiality laws. He said nobody he knows of has been disciplined.

Capt. Nancy Goodrich, head of the traffic division, previously told The Times that her office had conducted a “routine audit” of traffic citations and had recommended firing one officer. She did not return a call left Thursday with her office.

Some of the officers have told investigators that they were pressured to write a quota of 20 to 30 tickets a day and that keeping those numbers high helped win promotions and other favors.

San Diego police supervisors deny that quotas exist, but acknowledge that motor officers, or “motors,” are expected to write a fair share of tickets as part of their job. No set number is specified.

Ticket quotas are illegal under state law, but many officers say they are prevalent nonetheless.

The investigation is to be completed by about the first of next month, Worden said. When it is finished, some of the details will be made public, he said.