Will NYPD’s Next Transpo Chief Make Safety Priority #1?

3:41 PM EDT on May 26, 2009

We'd been hearing rumors for weeks, and today NYPD confirmed that Chief of Transportation Michael Scagnelli is retiring. His last day is tomorrow.

Chief Michael Scagnelli. Photo: New York Post

Scagnelli's departure is not really a surprise, considering that it's required by law. But the news is still significant in that his successor will step into the job at a time when the city is devoting more and more space to pedestrians and cyclists, even as NYPD all too often continues to treat those who traverse the streets outside of an automobile as second-class citizens worthy of scorn and harassment, when they merit any attention at all.

In 2007, police news outlet Officer.com ran a feature on Scagnelli, which offered this telling insight into departmental priorities:

Scagnelli lives and breathes the NYPD traffic-related mission statement:
Move Traffic, Move Traffic, Move Traffic,Reduce Accidents, Move Traffic,Reduce injuries related to accidents, Move Traffic,Reduce deaths related to accidents, Move Traffic!

Despite the apparent emphasis on unimpeded traffic flow as his ultimate goal, Scagnelli gets high praise for his efforts to reduce injuries and deaths at the hands of motorists. After the jump, Nassau County ADA Maureen McCormick, a former Brooklyn prosecutor whose work marks the cutting edge of traffic justice in New York State, offers her take on Scagnelli's tenure.

Chief of Transportation Michael Scagnelliis both a maverick and an icon in the area of traffic justice. He understands that the violent assaults and homicides committed by dangerousdrivers are criminal -- not just a cultural anomaly. His commitment to createpolicies and procedures to improve police training, responsiveness, and effectivenessis unmatched. Chief Scagnelli is the original “can do” policeprofessional who simply will not take “no” for an answer. During mytenure with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, I had theopportunity to observe the chief institute “Traffic Stat” whichheld local precinct commanders accountable for the traffic activity --good and bad -- within their confines. This focus sent a clear messagefrom the top that these offenses matter; that people’s lives wereendangered by dangerous driving and that the NYPD could make a real difference.Chief Scagnelli made that difference which is reflected in the statistics.In my opinion Chief Scagnelli’s shoes will be nearly impossible tofill. It is unfortunate that archaic retirement laws will deprive thepeople of New York Cityfrom receiving the benefit of his experience and tenacity. No one (noteven the Chief) would claim that there is not more work to be done in the fieldof traffic justice but we are losing an accessible, dynamic soldier in thiswar. The success of Traffic Stat is a model that other departments havefollowed. Let us hope the NYPD will continue to lead in this fight afterthe Chief retires. Best wishes Chief! And thank you for the workyou have done on our behalf.

Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Paul Steely White agrees that drivers who break the law were more likely to be ticketed under Scagnelli's watch, but points out that the need for further improvement is as urgent as it is blatant:

"Under Scagnelli, the number oftickets written for blocking bike lanes, not yielding to pedestrians and other lifethreatening offenses increased dramatically. So why is dangerous driving stillso rampant on NYC streets? What combination of new enforcement policies willfinally bring order to our lawless streets? Scagnelli’s successormust answer these questions."

With DOT's unprecedented strides in people-oriented street reclamations, and a change at the Manhattan district attorney's office also set to take place in the near future, the stage is set for a new era of law-enforced civility in what most anyone would admit is still an overly dangerous environment for able-bodied pedestrians and cyclists, much less children, the elderly, and physically impaired. NYPD would not offer immediate comment on who might (or might not) help usher in this age of safer streets, but we're keeping our ears to the ground.

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

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