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NORMAL — Three Normal Police Department patrol officers have filed a lawsuit against the town alleging they have been improperly disciplined for failing to meet arrest quotas.

Officers Deborah Weir, Brian Larimore and Todd VanHoveln filed the lawsuit in McLean County Circuit Court. It accuses the department of violating their rights under the state's Whistleblower Act that protects workers from retaliation for reporting what they believe to be illegal acts.

Each of the night shift patrol officers claims in the lawsuit they have been disciplined for failure meet a minimum number of monthly arrests for traffic, criminal and ordinance violations.

Normal Police Chief Rick Bleichner and Normal City Manager Mark Peterson declined to comment Wednesday, saying they had not seen the lawsuit. In comments earlier this year, Bleichner said the department has performance standards, but not quotas.

A law signed this year in Illinois makes such quota systems illegal.

Richard Steagall, attorney for the officers, said there is little opportunity for officers to makes arrests during the overnight hours when most people are sleeping. Urging officers to make arrests could lead to violations of people's constitutional rights, he said.