BOSTON — The troubled State Police Troop E, disbanded after an overtime abuse scandal, is now being accused of using a quota system for issuing tickets to drivers.
The alleged quota system, which is illegal, has been consistently denied by State Police, who said such a system did not exist.
The original investigation into Troop E found a variety of wrongdoing, including putting in for overtime shifts they didn't work.
However, new court paperwork related to the overtime scandal alleges troopers were punished if they didn't write enough tickets.
The revelation was made during a new sentencing memo for one of the troopers who pleaded guilty to embezzlement last year and has since been fired.
Prosecutors allege the troopers from Troop E, which primarily patrolled the Mass Pike, were expected to issue at least eight citations each shift under the program.
Troopers who failed to hit the quota were allegedly retaliated against by not getting overtime shifts.
A 2005 state appellate court decision deemed ticketing quotas are unconstitutional.
"Under the leadership of Colonel Gilpin, the Department has implemented several reforms, including the elimination of Troop E and AIRE Patrols, and has referred 46 troopers to federal prosecutors for alleged overtime abuse," said State Police Spokesperson Dave Procopio. "While the department does not comment on ongoing legal proceedings, the Department has no policy or operating procedures that establish quotas, and does not endorse a quota system."
So far, 10 troopers are facing criminal charges in the wake of the overtime scandal, where eight have already plead guilty.
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