File #: Res 1434-2012    Version: * Name: NYPD to train at least 5 police officers, including a traffic enforcement officer, in each precinct to conduct thorough investigations of vehicle accidents resulting in serious injuries.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 7/25/2012
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department to train at least five police officers, including a traffic enforcement officer, in each precinct to conduct thorough investigations of vehicle accidents resulting in serious injuries.
Sponsors: Stephen T. Levin, Brad S. Lander, Melissa Mark-Viverito, James Vacca, Margaret S. Chin, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Inez E. Dickens, Mathieu Eugene, Vincent J. Gentile, Letitia James, Peter A. Koo, G. Oliver Koppell, Rosie Mendez, Deborah L. Rose, Jumaane D. Williams, Ruben Wills, Jessica S. Lappin
Council Member Sponsors: 17
Res. No. 1434
 
 
Resolution calling on the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department to train at least five police officers, including a traffic enforcement officer, in each precinct to conduct thorough investigations of vehicle accidents resulting in serious injuries.
 
 
By Council Members Levin, Lander, Mark-Viverito, Vacca, Chin, Comrie, Dickens, Eugene, Gentile, James, Koo, Koppell, Mendez, Rose, Williams, Wills and Lappin
 
Whereas, The New York City Police Department ("NYPD") is responsible for investigating motor vehicle accidents in New York City; and
Whereas, Within the NYPD, the Highway Unit's Accident Investigation Squad ("AIS") specializes in investigating vehicle accidents; however, AIS only investigates accidents that result in death or a serious injury likely to result in a death; and
Whereas, AIS is a specialized unit comprised of, among others, detectives who conduct a comprehensive investigation at the accident scene including interviewing witnesses, preparing crash scene diagrams, and analyzing  physical evidence; and
Whereas, AIS officers are currently the only NYPD members trained to conduct these types of investigations, which can help determine criminality or wrongdoing; and
Whereas, According to the NYPD, in 2011, AIS was deployed 304 times, including to 241 accidents that resulted in a death and 63 classified as having a victim that was likely to die; and
Whereas, Despite the high number of investigations conducted by AIS in 2011, the AIS unit headcount has declined over the past few years; and
Whereas, In 2000, AIS had 1 lieutenant, 4 sergeants, and 24 detectives and in 2011 had 1 lieutenant, 3 sergeants and 19 detectives; and
Whereas, All accidents resulting in serious injury deserve a thorough investigation; and
Whereas, To ensure that there are enough officers to conduct thorough investigations of vehicle accidents resulting in serious injury; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department to train at least five police officers, including a traffic enforcement officer, in each precinct to conduct thorough investigations of vehicle accidents resulting in serious injuries.
SA
6/8/12
LS# 3423