7.24.09 Psd Letter To Dinapoli Final

THE ASSEMBLY STATE OF NEW YORK ALBANY

COMMITTEES Banks Cities Consumer Affairs and Protection Environmental Conservation Steering

MICAH Z. KELLNER th 65 Assembly District

July 24, 2009 Thomas P. DiNapoli New York State Comptroller 110 State Street Albany, NY 12236 Dear Comptroller DiNapoli: I am writing to request that your office perform an audit of the Public Safety Department (PSD) of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), a New York State public benefit corporation that administers Roosevelt Island. While the island falls within the jurisdiction of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), policing is primarily provided by the island’s 38 member Public Safety Department, who are employed by RIOC. While Public Safety officers are not members of the NYPD, they are New York State peace officers and are granted special patrolmen status by the New York City Police Commissioner. This provides them with the authority to write both civil and criminal summonses, as well as to effect arrests. While PSD officers maintain much of the authority of New York City police officers, there are many public safeguards with respect to the performance and scrutiny of the NYPD that do not apply to PSD, because it is in fact a private security detail that answers solely to RIOC. Your office has a formidable record in improving the accountability of local governments, state agencies, public authorities, and their subsidiaries and departments through performance audits, and the Public Safety Department of RIOC would benefit from the Comptroller’s office’s professional attention. Residents of Roosevelt Island, who pay a rent surcharge which funds PSD, have the right to know how effectively the Department is performing its duties. Any audit should not be limited to an examination of the agency’s internal documents, but must also include interviews with residents. As you consider your priorities for the next round of performance-based agency audits, I request that you include an audit of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation’s Public Safety Department. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter. Very truly yours,

Micah Z. Kellner Assembly Member cc:

Andrew Cuomo, New York State Attorney General Joseph Fisch, New York State Inspector General Deborah VanAmerongen, Chair, RIOC Board of Directors Steven H. Shane, President, Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation

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