• Meeting Called to Order – 2:00 PM

• 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 William Worden, Port Jervis 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).

  Chief Worden excused. Inspector Regina in attendance via telephone. All others present and accounted for on site.

• No guests attended this meeting.
  

• Approval of June 8, 2023, Committee Meeting Minutes:

1st: 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. Brain McMurray (Suffolk Co. PD) retired from service and is no longer on the TAP Committee.

• Cannabis Update:

Chief Sinagra stated that there is nothing new to report. Enforcement of unauthorized cannabis distribution is being sporadically enforced by municipal police departments, as CCB Enforcement Division is still not up and running.

Chairman Georges reported on new NHTSA PSA, Driving High.

• Coalition Against Big Trucks (CABT) Update:

Chairman Georges and Chief Sinagra stated that there is nothing new to report.

• Oral Fluid Testing:

Chairman Georges reported that he is working with Sgt. Jeff Tripp, N. Syracuse PD, to set up a Zoom Meeting with Central NY agencies who have established an Oral Fluid Testing program to discuss their respective agency experiences and best practices. The tentative date and time is July 26, 2023, at 10:00 A.M. He invited all TSC members to participate. Zoom link to be sent out as soon as the meeting is confirmed.

• Massachusetts Mandatory Cannabis Impaired Driving Curriculum: (All)

Chairman Georges tabled this item until next meeting. He will be sending some documentation to the TSC re: this item for their review to prepare for future discussion.

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

TSOL Geraci and Chairman Georges spoke briefly re: the panel discussion set for Monday July 17, 2023, at 1:00 P.M. during the NYSACOP Annual Conference. They asked that all TSC members present for the Conference attend the session.

• DCJS Public Safety Symposium, September 25 – 28, 2023, Albany, N.Y:

TSSC Denz reported that NYSACOP has two presentations scheduled for the Symposium.

Presentation #1 – Career Survival – Transitioning to the Role of Police Chief and is scheduled for September 27th at 3:30 P.M. (date/time changed from original schedule).

Presentation #2 – NYSACOP Traffic Safety Executive Leadership and is scheduled for September 28th at 10:30 A.M. (date/time changed from original schedule).

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

Chairman Georges confirmed with Chief Spaulding that we will do our NYSACOP Traffic Safety Executive Leadership training in her region sometime this Fall and she stated she would assist with setting it up.

TSSC Denz stated that on July 13, 2023, he attended the Chautauqua County Chiefs meeting in Dunkirk, NY and that group expressed its interest on having the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Executive Leadership done in their region as well. He will be working on scheduling a date there.

TSOL Geraci stated he will work on getting the training set up in the NE region.

• GTSC Update/Issues: 

Chairman Georges and Chief Sinagra updated the TSC on the current discussions between NYSACOP and GTSC re: the FY24 Highway Safety Grant application.

• Traffic Safety Engagement and Equity in Enforcement Programs:

Chairman Georges inquired on the status of pending legislation re: new STOP DWI surcharges and the Street Racing and Speeding Enforcement Act. No TSC members had any information re: same. Chairman Georges stated he would investigate and report back at a future meeting.

• New Business:

• Traffic Safety Activities and Training Courses:

Chairman Georges stated that the NHTSA 2023 1st Quarter Report showed a decline in crashes as compared to the same time frame in 2022. He also discussed the ongoing study being conducted by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) as to how reduced enforcement of VTL infractions correlates to reduced crash data.

Chairman Georges reported that NYSACOP sponsored John Russell, Garden City PD, to attend IPTM training in Orlando, Florida. Officer Russell will be invited to attend the next TSC meeting and report on his experience. Chairman Georges also reported that NYSACOP will be sponsoring a Below 100 T/T class in Broome County this September and hopefully another in the Mid-Hudson region later this year.

Chairman Georges informed the TSC that TSSC Denz, TSOL Geraci and Chief Sinagra will be attending the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) Conference scheduled for August 12-16, in New York City. He also discussed the 2nd Quarter NLEOMF Webinar hosted by Nick Breul.

Inspector Regina reported that there has been a recent increase of crashes involving teenagers and also illegal operation of dirt bikes/ATV’s in his region.

Director Tantalo reported that the Monroe County “Drive To Be Better” is progressing well.

Chairman Georges reviewed all the current posted traffic training opportunities.

• Other:

Chief Sinagra reviewed his proposed NYSACOP President’s Installation Acceptance speech and his Traffic Safety Platform for 2023-2024.

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

Chairman Georges discussed options for scheduling future TSC Meetings. All TSC members agreed to not have a meeting in August 2023, and to schedule the next meeting for September via Zoom Meetings. It was unanimously agreed that the tentative date will be Wednesday September 6, 2023, at 11AM.

• TSC Meetings with Traffic Safety Partners/Guests:

TSSC Denz will contact Police Officer John Russell, Garden City PD and invite him to attend the next TSC Meeting.

• NYSACOP TSC – Recruitment, Diversity and Succession Plan:

Chairman Georges stated that there is nothing new to report.

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

There were no suggestions for Intersections.

TSOL Geraci reported that the Johns Hopkins University Project: Innovative Approaches to Law Enforcement and Traffic Safety panel discussion is going to be recorded for use in a future podcast and/or webinar.

• Other:

Nothing further business/discussion.

• Date of Next Meeting:
• Wednesday September 6, 2023, at 11:00 A.M. via Zoom.

• Motion to Adjourn:

1st: Director Tantalo
2nd: Chief Spaulding