Abington police chief under scrutiny after proposing 'friendly competition'

ABINGTON, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) - Sometimes what one person believes is the most harmless idea can backfire and turn into a problem, as the Abington Police Chief discovered when he suggested a contest to motivate his officers.

FOX25 Investigates obtained an memo sent out at the Abington Police Department suggesting the idea of a contest to see which officer could make the most arrests.

"This seems to be a quota system so it's going to put in the officers' frame of mind bias and incentive to go out and charge people with crimes and make arrests,” defense attorney Joseph Krowski Jr. said.

Chief David Majenski told FOX25 that when he heard people were unhappy he canceled the contest.

"Once I received those concerns I rescinded the order but I still think the concept was good. I think the thought pattern was good to reward the officers,” he said.

An internal memo went out to officers in September saying in part "In the spirit of friendly competition… Whomever has the most arrests and criminal applications for the month of October will be able to take a weekend in November off."

The contest was voluntary according to Chief Majenski’s memo.

“They are supposed to be neutral and independent when they are investigating potential criminal wrongdoing,” Krowski said.

The “friendly competition” could also impact something else; the criminal cases that resulted from those arrests.

“It shows a motive, motive and bias against the defendant. A lack of neutrality,” Krowski said.

Majenski said he first heard concerns about the competition from the police union. He also said the officers didn't have to make actual arrests they could also apply for a warrant which he says would have taken away any pressure to just make arrests.

Cox Media Group