Police Department

Report

2007

New York State Accredited

Police Department

The assessment of the Tuckahoe Police Department for reaccreditation by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services was completed in July by an on-site visit of a three member team of assessors of experienced law enforcement practitioners. The New York State Accreditation Council, which is a 17 member council of community and law enforcement leaders that are appointed by the Governor voted for the accreditation of the Tuckahoe Police Department at their meeting on September 13, 2007.

The accreditation program is a progressive way to aid the department in evaluating and improving its overall performance. It provides a formal recognition that the Tuckahoe Police Department meets or exceeds general expectations of quality service. The program is comprised of 130 standards and is divided into three categories. Standards in the Administrative section have provisions for such topics as agency organization, fiscal management, personnel practices, and records. Training standards encompass basic and in-service instruction, as well as training for supervisors and specialized or technical assignments. Operations standards deal with critical and litigious topics such as high-speed pursuits, roadblocks, patrol and unusual occurrences. The program is voluntary and we are in an elite group of 116 police agencies that are accredited out of 542 statewide departments.

The assessment of the department verified that all qualification standards were met. In addition, during the exit interview each assessor indicated that the proof of compliance provided by our department was the most thorough and concise that they have experienced in their assessments of over 90 police agencies collectively. The assessors commented on the positive and professional attitudes, as well as the spirit of cooperation of each member of the department that was interviewed during the process, which included the union leadership of the Tuckahoe Police Organization.  The Department’s accreditation program was managed by Lieutenant Raffaele Stabile.  


Digital In-Car Video System

           

Tuckahoe The Police Department began the use of in-car video systems about six years ago using VHS technology. The use of in-car cameras has been highly successful in the prosecution of Driving Under the Influence, traffic violations and other offenses. The use of the video recordings provides an indisputable video/audio record of encounters between officers and the public.The audio/video evidence has supported court testimony, and in many cases reduced the number of court appearances by officers. In a recent civil action brought against the department involving a police pursuit, the case was dropped once the plaintiff’s attorneys viewed the video recording of the incident. Video recordings of traffic stops may prove to be an invaluable tool in the fight against terrorism.

The new digital system provides clearer images that are easily captured as evidence. Further, retrieving specific video evidence is much easier with the use of software to query the digital recordings. A recent study by the International Association of Chiefs of Police measured positive results of in-car cameras on: Officer safety, Officer performance and professionalism, agency liabilty and internal control, training and education,community perception, policies, procedure and protocols, agency leadership and judicial process.

   Bronxville Eastchester Scarsdale Tuckahoe

Alcohol and Drug Enforcement

Task Force

The cooperative efforts of the task force’s focus on the sale and consumption of illegal drugs and the sale of alcohol to minors, as well as underage drinking resulted in 106 arrests in all four jurisdictions. Further, the task force seized 30 grams of cocaine, 6 grams of crack cocaine, 3 ounces of marihuana, 6 decks of heroin and 14,000 illegal prescription pills. In its third year of operation, the collaborative effort of the task force has been very successful and has achieved results that could not have been attained working independently. The task force is supervised by Sergeant Daniel Belles of the Tuckahoe Police Department.

Personnel

Retirements:              Sergeant Kenneth Varian          31 Years of Service

                                    Sergeant Joseph Manning         21 Years of Service

                                    Detective Louis Suarez 32 Years of Service

Appointments:            Sergeant David Bank

                                    Detective Andrea Pinto

                                    Police Officer James Kennedy

                                    Police Officer Anthony Solano             


2007 Blotter Reports

Total Calls for Service:                3,528

Alarms:                                             329

Fire Responses:                              176

Medical Aided:                                 369  

Motor Vehicle Accidents:                153

         

Sex Offenses:                                  2

Robbery                                           2

Assault                                             1

Burglary                                            7

Larceny                                             50

Motor Vehicle Theft                         6

         

Drug Offenses                                 26

Criminal Mischief                                       25

DWI                                                  9

Disorderly Conduct/Loitering:         41

Liquor Law Violations                      3

All Others:                                        16

 

Arrest Report

Penal Law Arrests (adults):                  60

Juvenile Arrests:                                 2

Vehicle & Traffic Arrests:                     58

Total:                                                 120

Traffic Citations

Moving Violations:

·        Speeding                                  221

·        Red Light                                  50

·        Seatbelt                                    239

·        Unlicensed Operator                  87

·        DWI / DWAI                              12

·        No Comm. Traffic                       6

·        Registration Offenses                 28

·        Stop Sign                                  222

·        One Way                                  17

·        Pass School Bus                       11

·        No Inspection                            143

·        Light Defect                               133

·        Improper Lane Use          51

·        No Right Turn                            44

·        Mobile Phone Use                      252

·        Other Offenses                          173

                        Total:                  1,689

Parking Violations:                  8,553