Res. No. 431
Resolution calling upon the New York City Police Department to implement increased street safety-related training for all officers.
By Council Members Menchaca, Chin, Gibson, Lander, Rose, Rodriguez and Levin
Whereas, Each year hundreds of people die and thousands are injured in traffic crashes in New York City; and
Whereas, The City's Vision Zero initiative aims to eliminate traffic fatalities from the City's streets; and
Whereas, The Council has passed a number of street safety-related pieces of legislation as part of the Vision Zero campaign; and
Whereas, The success of Vision Zero will rely largely on effective enforcement by the New York City Police Department (NYPD); and
Whereas, Historically, traffic collisions have been treated as an inevitable part of life in a big city by society in general and by the NYPD in particular; and
Whereas, Lax speeding enforcement and insufficient crash investigations are just two areas where the NYPD has been criticized in the past for a lack of focus on traffic safety; and
Whereas, As Vision Zero continues to be implemented throughout the City, a culture of respect for the seriousness and importance of traffic-related enforcement and investigations needs to be instilled in every NYPD officer; and
Whereas, All NYPD officers should also be afforded the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills related to street safety, including receiving instruction about the leading causes of collisions, properly and respectfully dealing with victims and victims' families, and the unique challenges of collision investigations; and
Whereas, The NYPD should work with the Department of Transportation to enhance street safety-related training for all current and future personnel; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York City Police Department to implement increased street safety-related training for all officers.
LS# 1243
9/26/2014
JM