The state on Friday launched a new initiative to help police and prosecutors in five jurisdictions solve non-fatal shootings and prevent retaliatory gun violence. Police departments in Buffalo, Rochester, Schenectady, Troy, and Utica and their county district attorneys’ offices will share $866,564 in State funding to implement evidence-based approaches to improve investigations and save lives. Demonstration projects funded in Newburgh and Utica by the State Division of Criminal Justice Services increased the clearance rate of non-fatal shootings in both cities.
The new grant funding, which runs through June 30, will support dedicated teams of police, prosecutors, and crime analysts who work together to solve non-fatal shooting cases from the point at which they are reported, as is more commonly seen in homicide investigations. This collaboration will enable teams to secure crime scenes and gather and preserve evidence immediately, increasing the odds of identifying those responsible for non-fatal shootings. The $866,564 in grants also will support funding for overtime costs and equipment for the following law enforcement agencies:
- Buffalo Police Department: $248,970
- Erie County District Attorney: $68,482
- Rochester Police Department: $134,100
- Monroe County District Attorney: $55,313
- Schenectady Police Department: $89,349
- Schenectady County District Attorney: $65,840
- Utica Police Department $45,200
- Oneida County District Attorney: $47,600
- Troy Police Department: $80,272
- Rensselaer County District Attorney: $31,438
“As we work to reduce gun violence, it is critical that we solve non-fatal shootings and prevent retaliation in the form of additional gun violence,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “We know that when these crimes are left unsolved, retaliation can turn deadly. This funding provides police and prosecutors the resources they need to solve non-fatal shootings, prevent retaliation, and reduce overall gun violence.”
The funding to these agencies will continue through the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative as of July 1. The Buffalo, Rochester, Schenectady, Troy, and Utica police departments are among the 20 that participate in the initiative, which also provides training and technical assistance to police departments in 17 counties that report about 80 percent of violent and gun crime in the state outside of New York City. District attorneys’ offices, sheriff’s offices, probation departments, and other partners in those counties also receive funding through the initiative.
Monroe County District Attorney Sandra Doorley said, “In Monroe County, we have a collaborative law enforcement team that prioritizes evidence-based strategies to solve and reduce crime. One of the most successful and useful initiatives is GIVE (Gun Involved Violence Elimination). Together through GIVE and the Monroe County Crime Analysis Center, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office and the Rochester Police Department will have a team of attorneys and investigators whose sole focus will be non-fatal shootings. This dedicated and experienced team is the next step toward reducing gun violence in our community. I am thankful to the Governor for prioritizing public safety through this important initiative.”
