Thanks to E. Robert Bertolli, O.D., of Connecticut, for sharing this with me. Dr. Bertolli has informed me that the resolution was unanimously passed by the House of Delegates on May 19, 2010.
American Optometic Association Resolution 1975
This is an excerpt from the Connecticut Association of Optometrists Newsletter, the President's column:
The American Optometric Association Resolution 1975 is an endorsement by the AOA of the Drug Recognition Expert program, which is a program used by highly trained police officers to detect people under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The program uses pupil and ocular motor tests as two of its testing components. Optometrists teach officers how the eyes react when under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The AOA is the first major medical community to endorse the program and this will be a major benefit for law enforcement and prosecutors. Resolution 1975 was a joint effort between the Connecticut and New Jersey associations.
I need to give Connecticut’s own Drs. E. Robert Bertolli and Robert Pannone credit for spearheading the concept. The CAO was the first Optometric Association to endorse the program after Dr. Bertolli presented the proposal to our Board of Directors twice last year. Shortly after learning of our resolution, New Jersey
followed our lead and passed a similar version. Our two State Associations then worked together for several months and countless hours in order to get this passed on a national level. This is expected to be a large public safety measure. This is a huge victory for us all and should make it much easier to introduce DRE testimony and evidence in court nationwide.
The AOA Endorsement could not have happened without the combined efforts of all of these folks, from consulting to face to face proposing and educating the AOA House of Delegates, and testifying for the Resolution Committee.
Optometrists
*****Connecticut Association of Optometrists (CAO)
E. Robert Bertolli, O.D. Board of Directors
Christopher L. Agro, O.D President
James Boccuzzi, O.D.President-Elect
D. Robert Pannone, O.D., Member
Lynn Sedlak, Executive Director
*****New Jersey Society of Optometric Physicians (NJSOP)
Michael J. Siegel, O.D.President
Charles H. Fitzpatrick, O.D. President-Elect
Harvey B. Richman, O.D., Immediate Past President
Maria S. Richman, O.D., Board of Directors
Jack E. Richman, OD, Member and Consultant
Howard Cooper,Executive Director
Law Enforcement Consultants:
Sgt. Kyle Clark, Florida State DEC Coordinator, Institute of Police Tech. & Management, Jacksonville, FL
Captain Terri Dioquino, Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Largo, FL
Stephen Talpins, Chairman and CEO, National Partnership on Alcohol Misuse and Crime, Washington DC
Mark Neil, Senior Attorney, National Traffic Law Center,National District Attorneys Association,Alexandria,VA
Tom Page, DRE Emeritus
Congratulations everyone!!!!!!
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