File #: Res 0158-2004    Version: * Name: Provide additional compensation to employees of the NYPD who speak or utilize a foreign language in the performance of their duties.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 2/26/2004
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution urging the State Legislature to adopt Assembly Bill 5367, which provides additional compensation to employees of the New York City Police Department who speak or use a foreign language in the performance of their duties.
Sponsors: Miguel Martinez, Maria Baez, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Hiram Monserrate, Diana Reyna, James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, Yvette D. Clarke, John C. Liu, Lewis A. Fidler
Council Member Sponsors: 10

Res. No. 158

 

Resolution urging the State Legislature to adopt Assembly Bill 5367, which provides additional compensation to employees of the New York City Police Department who speak or use a foreign language in the performance of their duties. 

 

 

By Council Members Martinez, Baez, Comrie, Monserrate, Reyna, Sanders Jr., Seabrook, Clarke, Liu and Fidler

 

Whereas, Given the new reality that the City of New York is facing in the wake of terrorist attacks, the ability of all communities of the City of New York to communicate with the New York City Police Department, and vice versa, has taken on a greater sense of importance and urgency; and

 

Whereas, The proficiency and sensitivity with which the New York City Police Department can communicate with the people it is sworn to protect helps to foster better police-community relations and furthers the public safety of all who reside in the City of New York; and

 

Whereas, The service delivery of the New York City Police Department has been and is currently hampered in a number of communities in the City of New York due to language barriers; and

 

Whereas, Assembly Bill 5367 would provide for additional compensation in an amount of not less than five percent of the base salary of any employee of the Police Department who speaks or uses a foreign language in the performance of his or her everyday duties; and

 

Whereas, The passage of such a bill in the State Legislature would further aid the New York City Police Department’s efforts to recruit officers from minority communities and help the Department further mirror the demographic make-up of the City of New York; and

 

Whereas, The passage of such a bill would allow the Police Commissioner to officially create a Language Services Program and put into place a formal office that will determine and administer an application process, define foreign languages eligible for the program, establish language skills and proficiency levels candidates must demonstrate, and disseminate this information to the members of the Department and encourage their applications; and

 

Whereas, This bill would require that the selected sworn or civilian official must spend thirty-percent or more of his or her assignment involved with the general public, thus ensuring the ability to communicate with various members of the public; now, therefore, be it

 

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the State Legislature to adopt Assembly Bill 5367, which provides additional compensation to employees of the New York City Police Department who speak or use a foreign language in the performance of their duties.