Lawsuit over Normal arrest quota partially dismissed

Posted on May 1, 2015

Attorneys for three Normal police officers have 30 days to file a new complaint after their original complaint about an alleged arrest quota was dismissed Friday. (WJBC file photo)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – Attorneys representing three Normal police officers in a lawsuit filed against the town regarding its performance standards have 30 days to file a new complaint after the original one was dismissed in court Friday.

Judge Paul Lawrence agreed with the town’s argument that the original complaint didn’t specifically accuse the police department of forcing its employees to do anything illegal. The complaint claims the town violated Illinois’ Whistleblowers Act by forcing officers to comply with a one-arrest-per-month quota.

Deborah Weir, one of three officers who filed the lawsuit in Nov. 2014, says she was given a one-day suspension for failing to meet the arrest quota. Weir and the two other officers, Brian Larimore and Todd VanHoveln, work during the overnight shift, and attorney Richard Steagall says there are fewer chances to make arrests during that time.

Steagall argued in court today that the quota could force an officer to make an arrest without probable cause to avoid being reprimanded.

Other portions of the lawsuit dealing with a potential jury trial and a previous arbitration hearing on the matter will be decided on after the complaint is amended.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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