75 TEAs Graduate to Do Vital But Unpopular Job

The Chief-Leader/Alana Marcu 'STAY TRUE TO OURSELVES': Class valedictorian Jose R. Caba-Grillo addresses his fellow graduates as the 75 new Traffic Enforcement Agents prepared for their new life on the streets.

Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly July 15 congratulated 75 new Traffic Enforcement Agents who graduated from their training academy, saying that they will perform "a highly-visible job" at a time when traffic fatalities have dropped to their lowest level since 1910.

"This is a period of historic progress, and you are now a part of it," Mr. Kelly said. "Graduates, as you move forward in this department, take advantage of the opportunity to learn new skills. Challenge yourself. Here in this organization, hard work and initiative are the keys to success."

He continued, "In May, you joined a department swearing to uphold the laws of the Constitution. Today you achieve the full responsibilities of Traffic Enforcement Agent."

'Integral to Our Mission'

Mr. Kelly spoke of the rigors of their training, saying, "You have come to know what is expected of you as a highly visible member of the NYPD. You are an integral part of our mission."

He added that it would not always be easy. "You will enforce dozens of regulations, many of which you will soon find out are very unpopular," he said.

Mr. Kelly highlighted a new law to address harm visited on them for enforcing unpopular regulations: felony assault legislation, which went into effect last summer, providing for stricter criminal penalties. "Now anyone who assaults a Traffic Enforcement Agent will be arrested," said Mr. Kelly.

Communications Workers of America Local 1182 President James Huntley, who fought for the assault bill, said that the coming class of TEAs needs to be bigger than the 75 employees in the current graduating class. "Hopefully, the next class will be larger, maybe 200 people," he said, adding that it might be inducted in August.

Class valedictorian Jose R. Caba- Grillo said, "As we graduate, we must remember that we must stay true to ourselves and be mindful of others at all times."