A Bronx police officer who alleged he was punished for complaining to his superiors that his precinct maintained a quota system for arrests has lost his First Amendment lawsuit. Southern District Judge Barbara Jones (See Profile) ruled that Craig Matthews did not engage in constitutionally protected speech when he alleged that the 42nd Precinct had a strict quota system mandating a target number of arrests, summons and stop-and-frisks.
Matthews said he brought the quota system to the attention of commanding officers on four occasions, only to be given “punitive assignments” such as foot patrols and prisoner transport. He also claimed he was denied overtime and leave; was separated from his longtime partner; and was “targeted for humiliating treatment.”
