• Meeting Called to Order – 11:00 A.M.

• 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).

  All present and accounted for.

• Guest: Police Officer John Russell, Garden City PD. Overview of IPTM Traffic Safety Symposium.

Officer Russell delivered a report on the IPTM Traffic Safety Symposium he attended in Orlando, Florida June 25-30, 2023. His attendance was sponsored by NYSACOP via GTSC FY23 grant funding.

• Approval of July 16, 2023, Committee Meeting Minutes:

1st: Chief Spaulding
2nd : Chief Sinagra

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

Inspector Regina stated there was nothing new to report. However, he did relate that he expects to attend the next NYS TAP Committee meeting which should be scheduled sometime in November 2023.

• Cannabis Update:

Chief Sinagra reported that Judge Brant reinstituted a court order temporarily blocking the issuance of any new cannabis dispensary licenses in the Hudson Valley region. He further stated that there has been no movement by the Cannabis Control Board to staff and train investigators for their agency.

Chief Sinagra also reported that there are many complaints coming in from NYS farmers who have made investment in the industry, regarding the slow roll out of the program statewide. There is a significant supply of cannabis product, but no demand for sale because of the lack of legal dispensaries to purchase.

• Oral Fluid Testing:

Chairman Georges stated that the TSC has increased its interest in exploring the emerging field of oral fluid testing in NYS. He reported there is currently a working group established consisting of the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team, a cohort of municipal agencies from central New York which have established oral fluid programs, vendor representatives who provide oral fluid testing equipment, representatives of the NYS District Attorneys’ Association and the NYS STOP DWI program.

Chairman Georges further informed the TSC that there have been a couple of Zoom meetings with this group, the last being August 30, 2023, where topics related to the successes and challenges of test equipment costs and funding, establishment of policy, deployment, and related legal standards were all discussed in depth. Chairman Georges related that there are plans for future meetings with this group to continue the momentum, and when scheduled, all NYSACOP TSC members are encouraged to participate.

• Massachusetts Mandatory Cannabis Impaired Driving Curriculum:

Chairman Georges asked the TSC if there is a desire to draft a position statement on behalf of NYSACOP regarding NYS adopting a mandatory cannabis impaired driving curriculum for new drivers and presenting it to the NYSACOP Board of Governors for their approval. The TSC members unanimously supported moving forward with this proposition.

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

TSOL Geraci reported that when we met with the staff involved in the Johns Hopkins University Project at the NYSACOP Conference in July, they expressed a significant amount of interest in our NYSACOP LEL model as is currently in place with GTSC. At that time, they stated our program has the potential to become the standard for LEL programs across the nation.

TSOL Geraci stated he expects to be contacted by the John Hopkins staff soon, to continue discussions about out program.

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

TSSC Denz reported that he will be delivering a presentation called Transitioning to the Role of Chief of Police on Wednesday September 27th ; 3:30 - 4:30 P.M. and Bill and he will be presenting our NYSACOP Traffic Safety Executive Leadership training on Thursday September 28th ; 10:30 - 11:30 A.M.

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

Chairman Georges related that there is currently nothing in the pipeline with the Major City Chiefs, however the Team is working on delivering a NYSACOP Traffic Safety Executive Leadership training to the Corning PD region with the assistance of Chief Spaulding, and the North Country region through the assistance of Chief Dobson, Lake Placid PD.

TSSC Denz spoke about the recent Below 100 Train the Trainer event NYSACOP sponsored in Broome County via GTSC grant funding.

• GTSC Update/Issues: 

Chairman Georges reported on the status of the pending FY24 grant, how the proposed reductions in funding may affect programs and services NYSACOP can provide moving forward, and how the job posting for a new position in the GTSC office came about.

• Traffic Safety Engagement and Equity in Enforcement Programs:

Inspector Regina reported that to date, his agency has encountered 28 pedestrian fatalities in relation to 23 crashes. It appears that most of the contributing factors have rested on the pedestrians involved, which shows the need for a significantly increased educational strategy across the board. He also reported that the street racing and intersection take-overs have decreased tremendously over the past few months.

Director Tantalo reported that the Monroe County “Drive to Be Better” program has been temporarily put on hold as his county is now focused on a new Bus Patrol initiative scheduled to rollout in conjunction with the start of the new year. Director Tantalo also discussed a Motorcycle Safety PSA that Monroe County put out across their social media platforms.

Chairman Georges reported on a new article related to Massachusetts establishing an initiative whereby the Casino industry within their state will help fund an impaired driver study and another news article which addressed Connecticut State Troopers falsifying traffic stop data.

Chairman Georges also reported on the Deadly Driving legislative bill supported by Suffolk Co, ADA Maureen McCormick and that a hearing is tentatively scheduled at the NYS Capitol on September 28, 2023 at 10:00 A.M.

Chairman Georges stated that the Chairman of the IACP Roadway Safety Committee just produced a PowerPoint presentation on Equity as it relates to Law Enforcement. Chairman Georges stated he will review it and report his findings at a future TSC meeting.

• New Business:

• Traffic Safety Activities and Training Courses:

Chairman Georges relayed a list of current traffic safety trainings being offered, as well as the NYSACOP/NYSSA Leadership Summit November 8-9, 2023 at the Albany Hilton Hotel and the NYSACOP Annual Conference which will be held on July 14-17, 2024 in Buffalo.

• Other:

Nothing at this time.

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

Chairman Georges discussed plans of holding the next TSC Meeting in October via Zoom; all agreed on October 11, 2023, at 11:00 A.M.

He also suggested the November meeting to be held in-person during the NYSACOP/NYSSA Leadership Summit – TBD; all TSC members agreed and further discussion finalizing detail will be held during the October 2023 TSC meeting.

• TSC Meetings with Traffic Safety Partners/Guests:

All agreed Officer Russell did a good job relating his experience at IPTM.

• NYSACOP TSC – Recruitment, Diversity and Succession Plan:

Chairman Georges reported that Commissioner Ken Jackson, Garden City PD, has expressed interest in becoming a member of the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Committee. Chairman Georges went through Commissioner Jackson’s credentials and qualifications and suggested the TSC give serious consideration to supporting Commissioner Jackson for appointment to the TSC.

A motion was made by Chief Sinagra to have the TSC support the appointment of Commissioner Jackson to the NYSACOP TSC; a second was presented by Chief Spaulding; there was a unanimous “Yes” vote by the sitting members of the TSC.

Chairman Georges stated he will forward the recommendation of the TSC that Commissioner Jackson be appointed to the Traffic Safety Committee at the NYSACOP Board of Governors meeting scheduled for September 7, 2023.

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

Chairman Georges related that Master Police Officer (ret.) Jim Mastoras, Arlington, VA PD will be submitting an article regarding the: SafeNight Program he discussed at the January 12, 2023, TSC Meeting.

• Other:

Nothing at this time.

• Date of Next Meeting:
• October 11, 2023, 11:00 A.M. via Zoom.

• Motion to Adjourn:

1st: Director Tantalo
2nd: Chief Worden