Standing ovation for retired Riverside Police Department motorcycle officer Shawn Casteel who sued the City Of Riverside, because police supervisors retaliated against him for speaking out against ticket quotas. The jury heard enough evidence to award him 2.8 million dollars.

A jury on Thursday, Sept. 7, awarded $2.8 million to a former Riverside Police Department motorcycle officer who sued after he said supervisors retaliated against him because he spoke out against what he alleged were ticket quotas, his attorney said.

Casteel had been with the Police Department for 20 years, earning a coveted spot as a motorcycle officer in 2007, the lawsuit says. Starting in 2011, he said, the Police Department began violating the state law. Casteel complained about the practice up the chain of command.

“For refusing to meet the unlawful quota, and for speaking out against it, (Casteel) was retaliated against, and subjected to adverse employment actions,” the lawsuit says. “(Casteel) has also suffered extensive general damages in the form of anxiety, stress, anguish and mental suffering.”

The lawsuit was filed in 2019. Shawn Casteel retired from the department in 2022, said his attorney, Matthew McNicholas.

Casteel said supervisors prevented him from being promoted, caused him to lose overtime opportunities and pay and wrote negative evaluations after he protested. Casteel also said his health suffered as a result.

Section 41600 of the state Vehicle Code says law enforcement agencies may not require officers to make a specific number of arrests or write a specific number of traffic or parking tickets. Also, agencies may not compare the number of arrests or citations by one officer against the totals of another in evaluations.

“It’s a complete vindication for Shawn,” McNicholas said. “He stood up for motorists and he’s the one who suffered the harm. It’s a victory for motorists of Riverside, and hopefully, they will no longer be subjected to ticket quotas.”

The city, in its written response to the lawsuit, said Casteel failed to go through internal complaint and grievance procedures.

“I respect the jury’s decision, but I’m disappointed,” Police Chief Larry Gonzalez said Thursday. “I really stand by what I testified to in court: This department does not engage in quotas or retaliation and everything we do is lawful and appropriate.”

The trial lasted a little over two weeks at the Historic Courthouse downtown.

This came despite, in Ili’s opinion, Casteel being the “poster child” of the traffic division. He said Casteel was assigned to events at elementary schools and churches, parades and discussing traffic safety with the public. Casteel also had teaching positions in the department.

Because of those assignments, Casteel wrote fewer tickets than other officers

Jim Bueermann, a consultant to police departments nationwide and a former Redlands police chief, acknowledged what many motorists suspect — that some departments have had quotas.

https://www.pressenterprise.com/2020/01/14/are-there-traffic-ticket-quotas-riverside-police-officer-suing-the-city-says-yes
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/09/08/riverside-police-officer-who-protested-ticket-quotas-is-awarded-2-8-million
https://www.police1.com/lawsuit/articles/former-calif-officer-awarded-28m-in-lawsuit-over-alleged-ticket-quotas-sWRGLXmnfFBSRzIl/
https://trellis.law/ruling/ric1906046/casteel-vs-city-riverside/20210412484706