The union representing the city's detectives plans to announce a first-in-the-nation program that would give NYPD detectives a ride home if they are too drunk to drive, The Post has learned. Ta.
This month, the Detective Endowment Association plans to partner with Uber to launch an app that uses union funds to pick up people who have too many gumshoes, officials said.
“There are a lot of issues with DWI and coming home from parties and different events,” a 37-year-old NYPD detective who lives on Long Island told the Post. “It’s a huge benefit to not have to worry about it and just use the app and have it delivered to your home.”
The app's developer, Lee Reeves of New Jersey-based Intelligent Design, said detectives can call the DEA's toll-free helpline and connect with on-call officers, who are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. He plans to take it.
An on-duty police officer will answer the call and schedule a pick-up, he added.
The union can monitor the progress of the vehicle to ensure detectives get home safely. Service hours are from 7pm to 4am.
DEA Administrator Scott Munro said the app will be available to all 5,500 active members and the union will monitor usage to ensure the service is not being misused.
“Our first responsibility at the Drug Enforcement Administration is to support the world's greatest detectives in any way we can,” said Munro, who came up with the idea. “This innovative program is part of that effort.”
It is not yet clear how much the program will cost, adding that the union will track usage.
The initiative comes after three police officers were arrested for drunk driving last month. According to union data, 15 detectives have been arrested for drunk driving in the past four years.
A 38-year-old detective who had previously been arrested for drunk driving said he would have used the app if it had been available.
“It's hard trying to get a taxi when you don't have the app, so you decide it's more convenient to use your own car,” the detective said. “But if it was something we already got through the union, and the union was paying for it, I think everyone would take advantage of that.”
