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. . . . . - raise and consider. As he has raised those rightfully I think it is important to note that merely in the raising of them doesn't mean that his answer to those issues is the correct - answer. There are a couple of things that I would like to point out because this is a legal issue, so the record is clear that there is some response to that letter. First of all, there are factual assumptions in the letter that are not correct. The letter links the leader board issue to a purported possible illegality of the performance standards. And of course the leader board is not longer in existence. It wasn't in existence at the time of the writing of the letter. There are other factual assumptions that I also believe are incorrect. The legal discussion with respect to the Vehicle Code is also a discussion that is incomplete. The context the City Attorney has pointed out is evident by the report on what the standards actually are. That the standards have to do with a multi-faceted approach to evaluating performance. And even the statistical references are not just to violations for which someone is subject to arrest or citation under the Vehicle Code. I think as a matter of law his argument fails in that regard as well. Additionally, he has pointed out a paragraph in the report that we received ITom the Police Department by which he maintains that the department is indicating on its own and admitting that it has a quota because it disciplines officers for failure to meet the statistics. However, if one were to read the paragraph, it doesn't say that. In fact, it says "if a problem exists", then certain actions will follow, including counseling, and retraining and assistance. And the assumption about if a problem exists, the Chief has said clearly tonight that it isn't a problem if an officer on a particular beat or having a particular assignment does not meet the statistical goals. So I think the reference to that paragraph is simply out of place as a matter of law. There are other factors that I think we consider as a Council regarding policy issues that may not be - directly related to whether or not the performance standards constitute an illegal quota. There is absolutely no doubt that they do not constitute an illegal quota. I would like to point out a few of the characteristics that I think are important of the standards. First of all the standards are not aimed fundamentally at increasing arrests or increasing the number of citations. They are aimed at good policing for a safer community. And ultimately the goal of the Police Department is fewer arrests and fewer citations, because we have a safer community. And I know that the leadership of the department, I know that the management of the department, and I know the officers of the department all share that goal. And the performance standards are aimed at that goal, a safe, quality community. I applaud the Chief of Police and the rest of the Police Department for the creation of standards that are aimed at a safer, higher quality community. It has been mentioned that the sergeants have between themselves over 200 years of experience. That is close to Council Member Claire's experience on the Council. But the sergeants were involved in the creation of the performance standards. The standards were not created in an experience vacuum. They weren't created ITOm statistics from New York, or Los Angeles. They have direct relevance to the experience of our City. The District Attorney's office has not pointed out any instance of a false arrest or false citation arising ITom the performance standards, or from any activity of the police officers in our City. The police officers in our City are highly trained and well supervised, and do a great job. I think the standards are easy to meet and have a great objective. There are lots of other issues that - could be addressed, but one small one. A sergeant on the Police Department rewarded some of his officers out of his own pocket, taking them out for pizza. While I know it is REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 56 FEBRUARY 2,1998 MINUTES Page No. 231 PAGE 16