Governor Mike DeWine has signed a bipartisan bill into law that officially bans the use of ticket and arrest quotas in law enforcement across the state.
Senate Bill 114, which received support from police unions, was signed Tuesday. A similar proposal, House Bill 333, failed in committee last year.
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Under the new law, agencies and municipalities are prohibited from:
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Requiring a specific number of arrests or citations,
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Using formal or informal quota systems to evaluate or promote officers,
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Offering financial incentives or implying quotas are required.
The legislation also tasks the Ohio Attorney General’s Office with investigating quota-related complaints. An online reporting system will be created for officers to report any suspected use of quotas.
While many law enforcement departments claim quotas are rarely used, police unions have long argued that the practice undermines public trust. Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police President Ken Kober told WKRC the bill sends a clear message by formally banning the controversial tactic.
Importantly, the law does not prevent agencies from analyzing arrest or citation data, or from assessing how frequently officers issue them—it simply bars the use of set numerical targets.
