• Meeting Called to Order – 11:00 AM

• Roll Call:  Chief Joseph Sinagra, Saugerties PD, Inspector David Regina, Suffolk County PD, Monroe County Director of Public Safety Richard Tantalo, 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.

• Guest:  Chief Kenzie Spaulding, Corning PD - Chief Spaulding introduced herself to the TSC members, gave a synopsis of her career, and thanked the Committee for allowing her to participate in today’s meeting.

• Guest: Master Police Officer (ret.) Jim Mastoras, Arlington, VA PD. Presentation: SafeNight Program: Mr. Mastoras gave a history and overall synopsis of the SafeNight Program and its foundation in a Relationship Based Policing model which has been adopted by several police agencies and communities throughout the United States.

• Approval of December 15, 2022, Committee Meeting Minutes:

Motion: Chief Sinagra
2nd : Inspector Regina

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

Inspector Regina stated there is nothing new to report from TAP Chairman Georges reported the GTSC just posted 2 new DRE Certification courses – 1. In Albany April 24 – May 1, 2023; 2. In Saratoga June 5-16, 2023. Phase II for both courses will be held in Jacksonville, Florida.

• Coalition Against Big Trucks (CABT) Request for NYSACOP Support:

Chairman Georges reported that he was successful re: making contact with Liz Bolstad of CABT. CABT is currently working on legislative contact information and will contact the committee if/when they would like our assistance with outreach efforts. They are pleased with our efforts to date, no further action is required at this time.

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

TSSC Denz reported that all is on schedule for the event and that the “Save the Date” announcement is posted on the NYSACOP website. Chief (ret) Larry Eggert is in the process of finalizing the agenda and registration should be out by February 1st

• 2023 ESLETS Conference:

Chairman Georges reported that TSSC Denz, TSOL Geraci and he have an ESLETS planning meeting scheduled at NYSP HQ on January 19, 2023. He related that the tentative dates for the conference are May 10 and 11, 2023 and the conference will be held in the Rochester area. Chairman Georges also stated that we are trying to secure a time slot for Nick Breul (ret.) MPDC, Senior Project Manager, National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum, to do his presentation: What is Killing Officers on Our Roadways: A Review of the Data at the conference

• Site Visits to Agencies with Grants Not Approved:

Chairman Georges reported that we have merged this task into the Law Enforcement Executive Leadership training and will also conduct individual calls with impacted Chiefs.

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

Chairman Georges reported that on January 5, 2023, TSSC Denz, GTSC Crash Analyst Heather Ipsen, GTSC Program Manager Robert Lopez and he conducted a Traffic Safety Executive Leadership training session for the Monroe County Law Enforcement Council, in Rochester. The training was set up by Director Tantalo, was well attended and the material presented was well received by the attendees. Chairman Georges related that we are in the process of attempting to schedule additional trainings in Erie County, the North Country, and possibly one on Long Island.

• GTSC Update/Issues: 

Chairman Georges reported that TSSC Denz, TSOL Geraci and he have a meeting scheduled with GTSC management/staff at their offices in Albany on January 19, 2023. The meeting is structured to go over the re-organization of GTSC staffing, operations and our GTSC grant responsibilities. We will report the outcome to the entire TSC at the February TSC meeting.

• Traffic Safety Engagement and Equity in Enforcement Programs:

Nothing new to report.

• New Business:
• Johns Hopkins University project: Innovative Approaches to Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety

Chairman Georges reported on the history and ongoing transition from the former National LEL program to the involvement of Johns Hopkins University. He relayed that Johns Hopkins is hosting an introductory webinar on January 17, 2023, at Noon. He asked TSSC Denz to send the link to the entire TSC and to Chief Spaulding.

• “Street Cop” Training:

Chairman Georges reported on the Street Cop training that was posted for downstate later this spring and how his research into the actual training indicates the structure and content of the course runs counter to the NYSACOP Traffic Position Statement. He stated he was going to advise Executive Director Phelan and the NYSACOP Board of Governors of his findings at the next Board of Governors meeting.

• Traffic Safety Activities and Training Courses:

Chairman Georges reported on the numerous traffic training postings that are coming out of DCJS, GTSC and STOP-DWI. He advised the TSC to watch for these as they come out, and we will continue to distribute them to our Traffic Safety Points of Contact throughout the State and post them on the NYSACOP website.

Chairman Georges also reported on the NYS Law Enforcement Recognition Awards sponsored by DCJS, GTSC, STOP-DWI and MADD. TSSC Denz will send the announcement to the committee members and he requested that he be notified if any member of the TSC should submit a nomination for someone to receive an award.

• Other:

Chairman Georges asked Director Tantalo for the status of the new Drive to Be Better traffic safety campaign in Monroe County. Director Tantalo reported that the program is still on schedule to be rolled out later this spring; other than that, nothing new to report.

Chairman Georges asked Inspector Regina about the status of street racing in his jurisdiction. Inspector Regina reported that:

1. Although the number of events has remained consistent, the actual number of participants has significantly been decreased at each event.
2. His officers have discovered that the participants are now monitoring his agencies dispatch transmissions and are able to rapidly change locations prior to patrol arrival.
3. 1st and 3rd precincts are having the most success in ability to enforce the local ordinance prohibiting street racing.
4. His agency is now experimenting with increasing covert/undercover operations and retooling other enforcement activities in an attempt to further decrease this conduct.
5. Finally, he reported that Suffolk County was on track to show an annual decrease in fatal crashes from 2021 to 2022. However, Inspector Regina was disappointed that his agency had to investigate 10 fatal crashes in the month of December, bringing the total number of fatal crashes to 113 crashes, involving 120 persons killed, which unfortunately is an increase from 2021.

Chief Sinagra reported on the fact that the State of Massachusetts now requires a module on cannabis consumption and driving for all newly licensed drivers. AAA is the entity which developed the module and he asked if the TSC could explore this initiative further. TSOL Geraci stated he has close contacts with AAA Massachusetts and is familiar with the initiative. He will reach out to them and see if they would be willing to present the program at a future TSC meeting.

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

Chairman Georges posed the possibility for the next meeting being scheduled for Thursday, February 16 at 11:00 A.M. via Zoom meeting. After discussion it was determined several members had a conflict with that date and agreed upon Wednesday, February 15 at 11:00 A.M. via Zoom.

• TSC Meetings with Traffic Safety Partners/Guests:

As listed above, TSOL Geraci stated he has close contacts with AAA Massachusetts and is familiar with the state’s new driver initiative. He will reach out to them and see if they would be willing to present the program at a future TSC meeting. Chairman Georges reported that he is working on identifying additional guests

• NYSACOP TSC – Recruitment, Diversity and Succession Plan:

Nothing new to report.

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

TSOL Geraci contacted Nick Breul after the December TSC meeting and asked him if he would be willing to contribute an article for the Chief’s Chronicle; he agreed and will submit an article for review by February 15, 2023.

• Other:

Nothing further at this time.

• Date of Next Meeting:

• Adjourn:

1st: Chief Sinagra
2nd: Director Tantalo