TESTIMONY OF THOMAS J. SCOTTO, PRESIDENT OF THE DETECTIVES ENDOWMENT ASSOCIATION, INC.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

BEFORE THE UNTIED STATES SENATE, COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT UNITED STATES CUSTOMS HOUSE BOWLING GREEN,

NEW YORK, NEW YORK

FEBRUARY 11, 2002

On behalf of all of the members of the NYC Police Department I wish to express our appreciation to this committee for affording us the opportunity to express our concerns regarding the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

Since that date, members of the NYC Police Department have worked around the clock at the World Trade Center and the Staten Island Landfill.

As such, they have been exposed to a number of identifiable toxic substances and perhaps 100's of other combinations of these toxins that may never be identified and the long-term health effects of which are still unknown.

The major concerns of police officers can be grouped into four categories.

1. The development of a uniform procedure to provide physical exams over an extended period of time to monitor the overall effects of their exposure to the elements at Ground Zero and the Staten Island Landfill.

2. Assuring essential and required medical treatment within the basic health coverage provided by the City.

3. In recognition of the fact that many of the illnesses which result from contact with toxic substances can take in excess often (10) years to appear:

a) Revise the current pension provisions to protect the families of those who retire and then may suffer a debilitating and/or terminal illness as a result of their exposure to Ground Zero and the Staten Island Landfill environment.

b) Revise the current legal requirement which imposes an unrealistic time limit on ones ability to commence an action against the City.