The application period for $50 million in funding for law enforcement agencies across New York State is now open. The funding will allow police departments and sheriffs’ offices located in communities outside of New York City to purchase new technology and equipment to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent crime. Governor Hochul’s announcement coincided with the largest-ever Public Safety Symposium hosted by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. More than 1,100 local, state, and federal law enforcement professionals, criminal justice leaders, community members, researchers and academics are convening in Albany for the three-day event.
“I am proud to support best practices and smart solutions that will help our law enforcement partners improve public safety in communities across New Yorkers State, and that is why I am ensuring that our police agencies have the new technology and equipment they need,” Governor Hochul said. “I am also pleased to welcome more than 1,100 of the brightest minds and criminal justice professionals from across the country to our largest-ever Public Safety Symposium, where they will share their expertise to enhance public safety and improve the lives of all New Yorkers.”
This year’s Public Safety Symposium features 71 presentations exploring best practices, evidence-based programs and data-driven initiatives designed to improve public safety, advance the police profession, and build and sustain community trust. Symposium attendees and presenters represent nearly 400 different agencies, organizations, and nonprofit groups from across the state and country. Presentation topics include police recruitment and retention, police-community engagement, procedural justice, the crime analyst’s role in proactive crime reduction, officer health and wellness, safeguarding children of parents who are arrested, body-worn cameras, and executive leadership, among others.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) will administer the $50 million, for which police departments and sheriffs’ offices can now submit their applications. The deadline for submissions is noon on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023. DCJS issued the request for applications after obtaining feedback from police departments and sheriffs’ offices last fall about the type of technology and equipment they need. Those requests totaled $44 million, more than double the state’s initial commitment of $20 million. To fully fund those identified needs, Governor Hochul secured $50 million in the FY24 Budget. Agencies can seek funding for a variety of equipment and technology, including but not limited to license plate readers, mobile and fixed surveillance cameras, computer-aided dispatch systems, software, unmanned aerial vehicles, gunshot detection devices, and smart equipment for patrol vehicles and police officers.
