Governor Kathy Hochul visited Rochester September 9 to highlight nearly $39 million in state funding for law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations in Monroe County. She also directed the New York State Police to deploy additional resources to further reduce gun violence and crime in the City of Rochester. The State Police will commit an additional 25 troopers and investigators to enhance their existing partnerships with the cell Rochester Police Department and other law enforcement agencies in the county to address public safety concerns. Law enforcement agencies in the county have also received a total of $24 million to purchase new technology and equipment to improve data and information sharing and enhance their crime-fighting capabilities, the largest state investment in any county eligible for funding.
“As I have said since day one, the safety of all New Yorkers is my top priority, and that is why we are here in Rochester to ensure this community and local law enforcement have the resources they need to keep the public safe,” Governor Hochul said. “While we have seen great progress in reducing crime overall in Rochester, Monroe County and across the State, there is more to be done. I have directed the State Police to offer more personnel to support the City of Rochester Police Department and we are funding local law enforcement at a record level so that they have the latest tools and equipment to prevent crime and solve them fast when they do happen.”
Monroe County also is home to one of 11 Crime Analysis Centers funded and supported by the state in partnership with local law enforcement agencies. Last year alone, staff at the Monroe Center provided investigative support in real-time and handled over 21,000 service requests, providing data, information and investigative leads that allowed law enforcement to solve homicides, car and retail theft rings, and remove illegal guns from county streets.
These investments are producing results: Shooting incidents involving injury in Rochester declined 39 percent when comparing January 1 to September 1, 2024, through the same time last year. In addition, reported crime in Rochester was down 38 percent, and car thefts decreased 58 percent during the first eight months of the year compared to the same time in 2023.
New Technology and Equipment
The $24 million for law enforcement technology is shared among the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office ($11.7M – the largest grant to any police agency); and nine police departments: Rochester ($10M), Greece ($990,000); Brighton ($879,150); Irondequoit ($155,900); Gates ($140,000); Ogden ($67,185); Brockport ($46,765); East Rochester ($25,926); and Webster ($23,474). Agencies are purchasing a variety of equipment and technology including license plate readers, mobile and fixed camera systems, unmanned aerial vehicles, records management systems, body-worn cameras and devices and smart equipment for patrol vehicles and police officers. The Governor previously announced $127 million to police departments and sheriffs’ offices for new technology and equipment to prevent and solve crimes, improve public safety. This commitment to Monroe County law enforcement is allowing the agencies to purchase this equipment now.
Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative
Leveraging technology and data and implementing evidence-based strategies are cornerstones of the state’s work to reduce shootings and save lives. The Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative provides nearly $36 million and training and technical assistance to Monroe and 20 other counties to address gun violence and other violent crime. Monroe County GIVE partners – the Rochester and Greece police departments, and county district attorney’s office, probation department, and sheriff’s office – received record funding of $6.24 million for the second consecutive year.
Community-Based Organizations and Youth Crime Intervention
Governor Hochul’s comprehensive plan recognizes the importance of a multifaceted approach improving public safety: one that supports community-based organizations providing programs and services that address the impact of gun violence and seek to build and heal communities, so all New Yorkers have the opportunity to thrive:
•585 SNUG Street Outreach Program: Nearly $2.6 million combined to PathStoneCorp. and Rochester General Hospital to fund outreach workers, hospital responders, social workers and case managers who are credible messengers and work to reduce shootings and save lives. SNUG uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission, and treating individuals, families and communities affected by the violence. Rochester is one of 14 communities across the state to participate in the program. The state’s investment in SNUG totals $20.3 million this year.
•Project RISE (Respond, Invest, Sustain, Empower): $2 million to 14 different community-based organizations providing mental health services, crisis intervention, mentoring, and vocational training and employment, among other services to youth and families at risk or impacted by violence. This is the second year that Rochester and six other cities have each received $2 million through Project RISE: Albany, Buffalo Newburgh, Mt. Vernon, Syracuse and Yonkers. The initiative is unique because it directs at least 25 percent of funding to small, grassroots programs, many of which have never received state support for their work.
•Youth Employment: Nearly $4 million for the Finger Lakes region for the second phase of the state’s Youth Employment Program that began this month and runs through June. Research shows that vulnerable at-risk and unemployed youth can face struggles later in life, including poverty, mental health and criminal justice involvement. In addition, youth exposed to trauma and violence may suffer long-term harmful effects later in life, including barriers to successful employment and financial stability. To be eligible for the program, youth must be between the ages of 14 and 20 and have a household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which varies by household size and, for example, is $51,640 for a family of three.
Governor Hochul also announced that 585 SNUG and five other programs – Healers Village, Rise Up Rochester, Roc The Peace, Untrapped Ministries, and City of Rochester Pathways to Peace – each will receive $50,000 in new funding to support their work, which includes conflict resolution, mediation, coaching, advocacy, and mental health services for youth and families.
The state Division of Criminal Justice Services administers the law enforcement technology and equipment funding, and funds and supports GIVE, SNUG and Project RISE. The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance funds the state’s youth employment programs.
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said, “Ensuring the safety and well-being of our communities is essential to Monroe County’s success. This nearly $39 million state investment, including $24 million for cutting-edge technology and equipment for our law enforcement agencies and the addition of 25 more State Police personnel, will be instrumental in achieving our goal to reduce crime and create safer neighborhoods. These resources will enhance our efforts to curb gun violence, improve our ability to prevent and solve crimes, and provide essential support to community organizations. By making our communities safer, we are also creating more opportunities for our youth and families to thrive.”
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