• Meeting Called to Order – 11:00 AM

• Roll Call:  Chief Joseph Sinagra, Saugerties PD, Inspector David Regina, Suffolk County PD, Director of Public Safety Richard Tantalo, Monroe County, Chief Kenzie Spaulding, Corning PD, Chief (ret.) Daniel Denz, West Seneca PD (NYSACOP Traffic Safety Services Coordinator), Chief (ret.) Michael Geraci, Schenectady PD (NYSACOP TSOL), Assistant Chief (ret.) William Georges, Albany PD (NYSACOP TSOL & TSC Chairman).

   

All present and accounted for.

• Welcome to Chief Kenzie Spaulding, Corning PD, re: her recent appointment to the Committee:

  Chairman Georges officially welcomed Chief Spaulding to the Committee. On January 3, 2023, via e-mail vote, she received unanimous approval by the Committee to be recommended to President Sylvester for appointment to the Committee. Chief Spaulding was officially appointed by NYSACOP President Chief Sylvester on January 23, 2023, becoming the newest member of the TSC.

  
  

   

• Guest: Rob Lopez, GTSC Highway Safety Analyst 2. Chairman Georges stated that Rob Lopez was invited to the meeting and had accepted the invitation. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend due to an unexpected commitment.

• Guest: Arthur Kinsman, NHTSA Region 1, Regional Administrator

• Guest: Diana Gugliotta, Director of Public Affairs, AAA Northeast. Presentation on Massachusetts mandatory cannabis-impaired driving curriculum: Shifting Gears: The Blunt Truth About Marijuana and Driving.

TSOL Geraci introduced Arthur Kinsman, who informed the TSC on his pedigree and responsibilities as NHTSA Region 1, Regional Administrator. He subsequently introduced Diana Gugliotta to the TSC Committee, who conducted an in-depth presentation of the AAA Northeast Shifting Gears program.

• Approval of January 12th, 2023, Committee Meeting Minutes:

Motion: Chief Sinagra
2nd : Chief Spaulding

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

Inspector Regina stated there was nothing new to report since the last TSC Meeting.

• Johns Hopkins University Project: Innovative Approaches to Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety

Chairman Georges reported on the webinar hosted by Johns Hopkins University, which took place on January 17, 2023. He stated that all the speakers were very good, and it was well done. TSOL Geraci relayed that he has a long relationship with Jeff Michael, E.D. Distinguished Scholar l, of the University and recommended that Johns Hopkins receive an invitation to present at the NYSACOP Annual Conference this upcoming July.

• NYSACOP Executive Leadership Summit, March 20 - 24, 2023, Niagara Falls, N.Y.

Chairman Georges reported that the curriculum for the summit is set, and that he will be presenting, along with TSSC Denz and County Crash Dashboard developer Heather Ipsen, a traffic safety session on March 23, 2023.

He further reported that all three will also be doing a presentation to the Erie County Association of Chiefs of Police that same day.

• 2023 ESLETS Conference, May 10 – 11, Rochester, N.Y.

Chairman Georges reported that registration is now open for this conference. He, TSOL Geraci and TSSC Denz will be attending another ESLETS planning meeting with the NYSP on February 23, 2023. He also relayed information as to our offer to have Director Tantalo give opening remarks at the conference as well as TSOL Geraci assisting with getting Nick Breul (ret.) MPDC, Senior Project Manager, National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum, to do a presentation at the conference.

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

Chairman Georges informed the TSC of a list of Regional Chiefs organizations, some of their individual meeting dates and the potential for TSOL Geraci, TSSC Denz, and he to attend in order to do Traffic Safety Executive Leadership Trainings.

• GTSC Update/Issues: 

Chairman Georges discussed the most recent meeting TSOL Geraci, TSSC Denz, and he had on January 19, 2023, with GTSC management and some of their staffers. He relayed that the meeting was very positive and that expectations are still being discussed as GTSC continues their organizational transition.

• Traffic Safety Engagement and Equity in Enforcement Programs:

Chairman Georges reported that the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is forming an Equity Committee to Reduce Racial and Social Disparities in Traffic Safety and asked the TSC members if it was something they felt we should become involved with. After discussion it was determined that there is unanimous desire to participate with the GHSA committee. Chairman Georges stated he would investigate it further and offer the services of the NYSACOP TSC to GHSA re: this initiative.

• New Business:
• Calls for Decreasing and/or Eliminating Traffic Enforcement:

Chairman Georges discussed national trends and shared several related media reports regarding the topic. He stated he would continue to monitor and forward similar reports to the TSC in the future.

• Traffic Safety Activities and Training Courses:

Chairman Georges listed numerous posted traffic safety training courses and requested the TSC to take special notice of the GTSC Motorcycle Enforcement and Commercial Motor Vehicle courses and requested they assist in getting those classes filled to capacity.

• Other:

Chairman Georges reported that the Illinois State Chiefs of Police Association contacted TSOL Geraci and requested to use the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Position Statement and corresponding Talking Points as a foundation to create a similar model for their organization. He also shared that other State Chiefs organizations have expressed similar interest.

Chairman Georges reported that NHTSA Region 2 Law Enforcement Liaison John Zebrowski has left his position. It does not appear that NHTSA plans on replacing him as they are currently participating with the Johns Hopkins University Project.

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

Chairman Georges asked the TSC if holding the next Committee meeting in-person on March 9, 2023, at the Desmond Conference Center, Albany, in conjunction with the next NYSACOP Board of Governors Meeting schedule was a possibility. After discussion, all TSC members agreed that they were in favor of doing so.

• TSC Meetings with Traffic Safety Partners/Guests:

Chairman Georges stated he felt all guests who have participated in the TSC meetings added value to our meetings, all TSC members agreed. He is attempting to secure a guest for the next meeting who will discuss oral fluid testing.

• NYSACOP TSC – Recruitment, Diversity and Succession Plan:

Chairman Georges asked the TSC if they thought the Committee membership is adequate, or if we should still seek out potential candidates to add to the Committee. The TSC members had a discussion on the topic, and all agreed adding one or two more members would be good. Chairman Georges stated he has a list of potential candidates who he will reach out to, and asked the TSC to provide additional names of potential candidates that they believe would be interested if they knew of any.

• Topics for “Intersections” and podcasts including guest contributors:

Nothing new to report

• Other:

TSSC Denz informed the Committee about his responsibilities with assisting the DMV Crash Reports Division with contacting agencies with missing reports and facilitating submissions. He thanked Inspector Regina for his help with resolving the latest two issues, one which involved his agency and the other involving the Village of Hempstead PD.

Chairman Georges asked Director Tantalo about the status of the Monroe County “Drive to be Better” initiative. Director Tantalo reported that the program is almost ready to launch. He also reported that he informed the Monroe County Traffic Safety Board about the NYSACOP Executive Traffic Safety Leadership Training we conducted, and the County Crash Dashboard system, and the Board was extremely impressed with our efforts.

Chairman Georges asked Inspector Regina about the status of the street racing problems in his agency’s jurisdiction. Inspector Regina reported that after conducting several targeted enforcement initiatives, the problems in his area are dropping off. However, he did state an unintended consequence of their efforts is that it does appear the street racing participants have moved their activities to surrounding jurisdictions to avoid enforcement in Suffolk County.

He also stated that his agency is concentrating on a different traffic safety initiative each week. So far, they have done engagements regarding occupant restraints, speeding, distracted driving and stop signs. All engagements have been very successful, with more than 700 UTTS being issued during those targeted enforcement efforts.

• Date of Next Meeting:

• Adjourn:

1st: Chief Sinagra
2nd: Director Tantalo