Internal NYPD memo re: 2001 mosquito spraying for WNV
Subject: Internal NYPD memo re: 2001 mosquito spraying for WNV
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 07:46:19 -0400
From: Stephen Tvedten <steve@getipm.com>
Organization: Get Set Inc. (www.getipm.com)To: Paul Helliker <phelliker@cdpr.ca.gov>
Director, State of California, Department of Pesticide Regulationcc: Christine Whitman whitman.christine@epa.gov
Dear Mr. Helliker, I thought you might like to read an e-mail I received from Robert Lederman entitled: Internal NYPD memo on 2001 West Nile Virus spraying.
Here's an optical character transcription from an actual NYPD internal memo I recently obtained that was issued to all precincts on 5/16/2001. Note that it orders police to stay at least 25 feet from spray trucks to avoid poisoning, advises them to wash their skin with large amounts of water in the event they are sprayed etc. I've faxed the actual memo to Joel Kupferman, the NoSpray Coalition lawyer. It's quite interesting in light of the dissimilar precautions taken with police, spray workers and civilians in Harlem and elsewhere in NYC last year and with the Mayor's repeated assurances that the spray is "completely safe". Many New Yorkers were directly sprayed and we were all repeatedly and deliberately disinformed by the Mayor and the Dept of Health. For many more articles and documents exposing the city's West Nile Virus program see:
West Nile Virus information - http://baltech.org/lederman/
(earlier West Nile Virus articles) - http://www.levymultimedia.com/lederman/index.htm
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NYPD OPERATIONS ORDER
ADULT MOSQUITO CONTROL TRUCK ESCORT
05-16-01 Operations order # 33
The New York City Department of Health may be performing strategic ground-based mosquito control to reduce the size of the adult mosquito population that is associated with the West Nile Virus or a similar threat to the public's health. In order to assist the Health Department in carrying out focused pesticide spraying; uniformed members of the service may be assigned to escort trucks from that agency or an applicator under contract to that agency while pesticides are being sprayed, or perform foot patrol duties in the vicinity.
2. For the guidance of all uniformed members of the service who may be assigned to spraying operations, the following procedure is established.
a. All uniformed members assigned to escort the pesticide spraying trucks or to foot patrol duties in the vicinity, will have their names recorded in the Command Log concerned.
b. The detail supervisor or patrol supervisor concerned will notify the Medical Division Sick Desk for assignment of an Exposure Number.
c. The following precautions should be strictly adhered to:
(1) Assigned Department vehicle(s) shall ONLY lead spray trucks(s) through designated routes and make announcements as needed. Under no circumstances shall any Department escort vehicles follow spray truck(s).
(2) Do not open the vehicle windows during spraying.
(3). Set the air conditioning vents to re-circulation mode during spraying.
(4) Avoid contact (skin, eyes or clothing) with the spray.
d. In the event that uniformed members on foot patrol are assigned to the location where Department of Health personnel will perform spraying; maintain a safe distance of approximately twenty-five (25) feet Born passing spray trucks tominimize members' exposure to the pesticide.
e. In the event any inadvertent exposure to the pesticide occurs, comply with the following measures:
(1) If the pesticide is splashed directly in the eyes, immediately rinse both eyes with lukewarm water for at least fifteen (15) minutes or until relieved, If eyes are irritated or vision is not normal after fifteen minutes, seek medical assistance. .
(2) If exposed skin comes in contact with the pesticide~ the skin should be immediately flushed with large amounts of water and any contaminated clothing should be washed with soap and water.
(3) Any member who experiences any adverse reaction to pesticide should call their doctor and/or the New York City Poison Control Center at (212) 764-7667 and also notify the Occupational Health Nursing Unit of the Medical Division at (718) 760-7644, or the Sick Desk.
3. Commanding officers will ensure that the contents of this order are brought to the attention of members of their commands.
4. Operations Order 29, series 2001 is REVOKED.
BY DIRECTION OF THE POLICE COMMISSIONER
DISTRIBUTION
All Commands
OPERATIONS ORDER NO. 33
Well Mr. Helliker, The continuing "use" of your 'registered" POISONS to "control" mosquitoes certainly sounds dangerous to those innocent people and/or wildlife who can not avoid being sprayed and/or who will not be able to: "In the event any inadvertent exposure to the pesticide occurs, comply with the following measures." Winston Churchill once noted: "It's no use saying, "We are doing our best." You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary." I do not consider harming people and wildlife with "registered" POISONS that will not control much less eliminate West Nile Virus, anything like "doing your best". When will it be 'legal" (in your opinion) to use safe and far more effective unregistered alternatives to actually contol pest problems?
Respectfully, Stephen L. Tvedten
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