City council to address new policing system

Wednesday, August 08, 2012

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RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Many Raleigh police officers upset about a new system which they consider a quota targeting drivers have won a small victory.

More than 200 police officers and civilian workers who don't like the plan got the attention of city council Tuesday. They will get their issue added to the agenda.

"We believe this will create a barrier between police and the community," said Nick Wood, with Triangle Jobs for Justice.

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Public comments were heard on the continuing controversy over the new police evaluations for Raleigh police officers.

"We're concerned that something as subjective as officer discretion of police work is being quantified," said Wood.

Wood said the new evaluations will create quotas.

Opponents of the system got the ear of the mayor and city council and the issue of the new evaluations that some feel will turn officer work into nothing more than a quota system of arrests and traffic tickets will go to committee and could become a hot topic at a future council meeting.

The teamsters, the police union opposed to the new system, also got a new supporter in their fight from firefighters.

"I don't want this type of management tool to get a hold in North Carolina because it would affect everyone," said Keith Wilder, with Raleigh's firefighter union.

Mayor Nancy McFarlane said she's concerned too.

"I'm concerned that people are concerned," said McFarlane. "You know, I'm concerned that there seem to be a lot of questions and certainly want everything to be addressed and I want things to be explained."

The police chief has said the system is not a quota and the new system is about community policing and making Raleigh better.

Twenty-five percent of his force have said they disagre and now it'll be up to city council to make the next call. There's no word on when that will happen.