• Meeting Called to Order – 2:00 P.M.

• Roll Call: Inspector David Regina, Suffolk County PD, Director of Public Safety Richard Tantalo, Monroe County, Chief Kenzie Spaulding, Corning PD, Chief William Worden, Port Jervis PD, Commissioner Kenneth Jackson, Garden City PD, Chief (ret.) Daniel Denz, West Seneca PD (NYSACOP Traffic Safety Services Coordinator), Chief (ret.) Michael Geraci, Schenectady PD (NYSACOP TSOL), Frank Galerie (NYSACOP GTSC LEL), Assistant Chief (ret.) William Georges, Albany PD (NYSACOP TSOL & TSC Chairman).

All present and accounted for.

Chief (ret.) Joseph Sinagra, Saugerties PD: Leave of Absence.

• Introduction and Welcome:

• No guests at this meeting.

• Approval of February 12, 2024, Committee Meeting Minutes:

1st:      Chief Spaulding
2nd:     Commissioner Jackson

Due to unexpected scheduling conflicts the March 15th Committee meeting was cancelled.

• Updates/Status on Previous Agenda Topics/Events:
• NYS TAP Committee/DRE Issues:

Insp. Regina reported that Suffolk County PD recently hosted two DRE Recertification Courses. ADA Maureen McCormick and he addressed the attendees and discussed the challenges faced by officers who must prosecute Driving while Impaired by Drug cases. Insp. Regina stated that there was nothing additional to report.

• Oral Fluid Testing:

Chairman Georges reported that there have been no new updates from/meetings of the Statewide Committee he sits on since Jennifer Limoges, from the NYSP Lab, resigned as Committee Chair.

Chairman Georges informed the TSC that he invited Intoximeter representative, Jim McCauley, to attend NYSACOP Traffic Safety Executive Leadership trainings to offer an overview to attendees re: oral fluid testing which has been well-received and also stimulated increased interest re: this technology.

• NYSACOP Traffic Safety Points of Contact (POC) Webinar:

Chairman Georges described the POC webinar the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team developed and delivered on March 28, 2024. He stated the presentation went well/met its’ goals and that moving forward the Team hopes to deliver future webinars on an annual basis.

TSSC Denz will provide a link to the TSC members so they may access the recording of the webinar.

• MADD/NHTSA Region 2 Impaired Driving Summit, Middlesex College, Edison, N.J., March 13, 2024:

Chairman Georges discussed the event that TSSC Denz, TSOL Geraci, Inspector Regina and he attended. He stated overall it was well done.

TSSC Denz mentioned NYSACOP was able to sponsor Monroe County STOP-DWI Program Coordinator, Lindsay Tomidy, to attend the Summit as well.

• NYSACOP Police Executive Training, Niagara Falls, N.Y., Week of March 18, 2024:

Chairman Georges described the Traffic Safety Team’s involvement in the training event.

TSSC Denz informed the TSC that this training is supported by DCJS and had the most attendees since the program inception.

Commissioner Jackson stated that he sent a member of his command staff and that he reported that he was highly impressed with the overall logistics and content of the training.

• National LEL/TSRP/JOL Meeting, Denver, CO April 6, 2024:

TSOL Geraci briefed the TSC on his attendance at this meeting. He explained the purpose of the meeting and how LEL/TSRP/JOL relationships work in other states. He also noted that the TSRP position in New York State has been defunded. Other topics of discussion at this meeting included:

1. Lack of personnel available to law enforcement agencies and how that has led to a decrease in traffic safety initiatives across the country.
2. The continued attack by political/special interest groups on law enforcement efforts towards traffic safety engagement.
3. Continued discussion on the term” equity” and the lack of a clear definition for law enforcement as applied to traffic engagement.
4. NHTSA/ Johns Hopkins University’s (JHU) continued interest in our NYSACOP LEL model and Traffic Safety Executive Leadership training program. NHTSA and JHU may meet with NYSACOP in June for further discussion.

• Crash Data Review:

Commission Jackson reported that a review of his agency’s data shows a 25% decrease in crashes within his jurisdiction from pre-COVID numbers.

• Outreach to Regional Chiefs of Police Associations & Major City Chiefs:

Chairman Georges reported on the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team’s invitation to speak at the upcoming Mid-Hudson STOP DWI Coordinators Awards ceremony on April 17, 2024. He also reported on the Traffic safety Executive Leadership trainings that were conducted in Corning and Lake Placid earlier this year.

TSSC Denz reported on his recent visits to regional chiefs’ meetings in Monroe County, Erie County and the WNY Chiefs associations. He thanked Director Tantalo for getting him an invitation to Monroe. Director Tantalo reported that the visit was very well conducted and received.

• Traffic Safety Engagement and Equity in Enforcement Programs:

Nothing to report.

• GTSC Update/Issues: 

Chairman Georges reiterated his welcome to Frank Galerie and stated how happy we are to have him on board. He also updated the TSC on the current status of funding and the overall FY24 GTSC grant budget.

TSSC Denz advised TSC that the FY 2024 Mid-Year Report is due April 15, 2024, and the FY 2025 Grant applications are due May 1, 2024.

LEL Galerie reported on the MV104 updates expected to be out later this year.

• Upcoming Events:

• ESLETS Conference, The Sagamore Resort, Bolton Landing, N.Y., April 24-25, 2024:

Chairman Georges reviewed the event and polled the TSC to see who is attending. The Traffic Safety Team is looking forward to meeting up with those who will be attending.

• “No Empty Chair” Campaign:

TSSC Denz reported that the NEC campaign is slated for April 22-26, 2024. There is a press conference on April 18, 2024 hosted by Cheektowaga PD, followed up with a teen driver program at Cheektowaga High School, to kick off the engagement initiative. Other programs involving NEC will take place in Batavia 4/18 and Salamanca 4/19.

• NYSACOP Annual Conference (& TSC Meeting), Hyatt Regency Buffalo, July 14-17, 2024 Buffalo, N.Y:

Chairman Georges reported on preliminary event planning and mentioned that he hopes to schedule an in-person TSC meeting during the conference.

• New Business:

• Automated Speed Enforcement in Work Zones:

Chairman Georges reviewed the NYSDOT Automated Speed Enforcement in Work Zones program as it relates to on-duty vehicles and suggested that PD’s should develop a policy for employees re: this program.

Inspector Regina spoke on the Suffolk County policy for employees who encounter any automated traffic enforcement measures.

Chairman Georges stated the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team will continue to do follow-up on this topic and report back as necessary.

• Agencies Using Warning Tickets:

Chairman Georges polled the TSC members to see if anyone utilizes a warning ticket program within their respective agencies; none reported they did. All agreed that we should poll the NYSACOP POCs to determine what agencies currently use them and if so, how they are used.

Inspector Regina spoke on SCPD’s tracking of all traffic stops, including when a summons is not issued, and that they post the information so the public can review real-time information.

• Campus Police/Public Safety Agencies:

Chairman Georges reported on an inquiry we received from a Public Safety Officer at Syracuse University regarding how to acquire a DataMaster. Upon discussing the matter, it was tabled until more research on the matter can be done.

• NHTSA Resources:

Chairman Georges reported on several NHTSA internet resource links TSOL Geraci discovered that may be of interest to the TSC Members. TSSC Denz will forward the links to the members and further discussion can be had in the future, should the TSC desire.

• Traffic Safety Activities and Training Courses:

Chairman Georges reported on traffic safety trainings currently posted. He also discussed DMV’s/DOT’s current enforcement initiatives re: ghost vehicles and the upcoming NYS MADD Law Enforcement Awards Ceremony taking place in Albany on May 1, 2024.

• Other:

Nothing to report.

• Follow-up Activities/Assignments:
• Schedule re: Future TSC Meetings

Chairman Georges offered the following plan for the next several TSC Meetings:

May and June will be Zoom Meetings and July will be in-person at the Annual NYSACOP Conference.

After discussion, all TSC Members agreed the next meeting will be via Zoom on May 13, 2024 at 2:00 P.M.

• TSC Meetings with Traffic Safety Partners/Guests:

Chairman Georges stated that NYSDOT Rep Jonathan Nicastro, and ADA Maureen McCormick are potential future guests.

• NYSACOP TSC – Recruitment, Diversity and Succession Plan:

Nothing to report.

• Topics for “Intersections” , podcasts, etc., including guest contributors:

Chairman Georges suggested that Commission Jackson and he collaborate on an article re:
Garden City PD’s significant reduction in crashes.

• Other:

Nothing to report.

• Next Meeting:
• May 13, 2024 @ 2:00 P.M. via Zoom

• Motion to Adjourn:

1st:     Director Tantalo
2nd:    Chief Worden