• Meeting Called to Order – 11:00 A.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.

• No guests this meeting.

• Approval of October 16, 2024 Committee Meeting Minutes:

1st:      Chief Worden
2nd:     Chief Spaulding

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

NYSACOP/GTSC LEL Galerie stated there is nothing new to report. Next meeting is scheduled for December 12, 2024 in Oriskany, NY.

• Oral Fluid Testing:

Chairman Georges explained the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team’s plan of establishing an Oral Fluid Testing Users Group and the goals and objectives for doing so. The Team is tentatively scheduling the first Users meeting for December 5, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. via Zoom. The TSC members will be included on the invitation list and can attend if they desire to do so.

• Agencies Using Warning Tickets:

Nothing new to report.

• NYS Bill A9923 & Pre-Filing of Complete Deadly Driving Bill for Next Legislative Session:

Chairman Georges updated the TSC on Maureen McCormick’s efforts to push this legislation forward and NYSACOP’s continued support of this effort.

Inspector Regina discussed Maureen McCormick’s attendance as a guest speaker at a recent meeting of the Suffolk County Traffic Safety Board.

• Crash Data Review:

Chairman Georges polled the TSC members regarding any crash information in their regions.

Inspector Regina reported that overall fatal crashes in his area are down approximately 35%, however the number of crashes involving pedestrians continues to climb. He stated there were 5 fatal crashes this fall in which pedestrians were killed with 4 directly caused by pedestrian behavior. He also gave an account of a recent fatal motorcycle crash, the causal factor of which was high speed operation, confirmed through investigation by reviewing the video of a GoPro camera that had been mounted to the driver’s helmet.

Commissioner Jackson reported that fatal crashes in his region mirror what Inspector Regina had reported, with overall fatal crashes decreasing, while pedestrian fatal crashes are rising.

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

Chairman Georges reported that there have been attempts to schedule Traffic Safety Executive Leadership trainings in Herkimer and Franklin Counties, however so far this has been unsuccessful. NYSACOP/GTSC LEL Galerie stated that there is potential to conduct one in Rockland County which will be pursued as we go into 2025.

Chairman Georges reported that the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team is currently exploring the possibility of conducting an in-person meeting of the Zone 7 Traffic Safety Points of Contact, in the Syracuse area.

Chairman Georges also reported on initial planning efforts re: establishing a program where upon a request by an agency, the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team could provide reviews of individual police department’s traffic safety program/efforts.

• Traffic Safety Engagement and Equity in Enforcement Programs:

Inspector Regina reported on a recently established Suffolk County Street Racing Taskforce assembled to specifically combat street take-overs and side shows. He stated the initiative has had an immediate impact and is causing a decrease in these types of occurrences.

Commissioner Jackson reported on a similar initiative in Nassau County.

Nothing new to report re: equity.

• GTSC Update/Issues: 

Chairman Georges reported that the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team is continuing efforts re: strengthening the partnership with GTSC and building relationships with GTSC staff members and that these efforts seem to be progressing in a positive direction. There is currently some personnel turnover at GTSC, including with GTSC management, which the Team is monitoring. NYSACOP GTSC LEL Galerie stated that GTSC currently has 3 Program Rep vacancies.

NYSACOP GTSC LEL Galerie reported on the difficulty in maneuvering through the state’s grant management data bases due to information entry inconsistencies. He also reported that grantees who have HS1 grants appear to be having issues with GTSC Program Rep availability and thus responsiveness.

NYSACOP GTSC LEL Galerie further reported that he was asked by GTSC to attend the Cannabis Driver Awareness training so he will be able to assist GTSC/DCJS with delivery of the program in the future and has also been asked to be the Chairman of the NYS Oral Fluid Workgroup.

TSSC Denz reported on the current status of the NYSACOP FY25 GTSC HS1 grant. Due to a paperwork glitch between NYSACOP, the Comptroller’s Office and GTSC, NYSACOP is still awaiting finalization of the grant from the NYS Comptroller’s Office. It is expected that this will be quickly resolved and the process completed in the very near future.

TSSC Denz also reported on, and thanked, Director Tantalo, for his continuing assistance with setting up a GTSC Speed Awareness press event in the Rochester area for December.

• IACP Annual Conference, Boston, MA., October 19-22, 2024:

Chairman Georges reported that he attended the conference and participated in the IACP Roadway Safety Committee meeting held during the Conference. Overall, the Conference was valuable and provided exceptional information and traffic safety networking opportunities with colleagues nationwide.

• N.Y. Highway Safety Symposium, Lake Placid, N.Y., October 21-24, 2024:

TSOL Geraci reported that he felt the Symposium was well attended and the training sessions were conducted well. He echoed Inspector Regina’s earlier report on Maureen McCormick’s presentation.

NYSACOP/GTSC LEL Galerie agreed with TSOL Geraci’s assessment of the Symposium. He stated that he felt McCormick’s presentation should have occurred earlier on the Symposium agenda and that he received feedback from several attendees that although they felt the actual presentations themselves were well done, the information and subject matter was stale because of repetition from other conferences. Inspector Regina concurred with NYSACOP/GTSC LEL Galerie’s assessment.

Director Tantalo spoke about the presentation given by Monroe County STOP-DWI Program Coordinator/Office of Traffic Safety Supervisor, Lindsay Tomidy.

• NYSACOP – NYSSA Leadership Summit/Police Executive Training, Rivers Resort & Casino, Schenectady, N.Y., November 7-8, 2024:

Chairman Georges reported that the event was well attended and presented. He also reported that the NYSACOP Traffic Safety Team had a breakout session to work on strategic and operational planning for 2025.

• Other:

Director Tantalo reported that Monroe County officially launched its Traffic Safety Team program on November 1st. The Team has already received over 180 submissions from the public re: traffic safety concerns is forwarding those to the appropriate agencies for action.

Chairman Georges asked Director Tantalo to share what the top 3 concerns were. Director Tantalo stated they were excess speed, failure to stop at stop signs/red lights, and the overall physical condition of particular roadways.

• Upcoming Events:

• 2025 ESLETS Conference:

• New Business:

• Agencies who Were Denied or Did Not Apply for 2025 GTSC Grants:

• Cannabis and Driving Before and After Legalization of Cannabis in New York:

• New Jersey Police Traffic Officers Association:

• Utah’s Experience with .05 BAC:

• Traffic Safety Activities and Training Courses:

Chairman Georges reviewed the list of posted trainings and discussed the recent DMV “P” Series Memo regarding Reckless Driving in Parking Lots.

• Other:

Nothing further to report.

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

Chairman Georges discussed his plan to hold the next NYSACOP TSC meeting as an in-person meeting, at the Desmond Crowne Plaza in Colonie, Thursday December 12, 2024 at 1:00 P.M.

All TSC members agreed with the plan and will attend, personal schedules permitting.

• TSC Meetings with Traffic Safety Partners/Guests:

Nothing new to report.

• NYSACOP TSC – Recruitment, Diversity and Succession Plan:

Nothing new to report.

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

Chairman Georges reported that he has submitted the next Chief’s Chronicle “Intersections” article which will be published in December. He also invited all TSC members to consider being a guest author in the future or possibly identify/recruit a guest subject matter expert to submit one.

• Other:

Nothing further to report.

• Next Meeting:
• Desmond Crowne Plaza, Colonie, N.Y. Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 1:00 P.M. Room TBD.

• Motion to Adjourn:

1st:     Chief Spaulding
2nd:    Inspector Regina