New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said her state will invest $100 million into law enforcement technology and equipment.
As part of the state’s LETECH Grant Program, the money is available for police departments and sheriff’s offices to modernize equipment and improve their technology, the grants will come from two different programs. One, a $75 million investment will fund technology and equipment, while the other will spend $25 million on a statewide records management system to replace the current platform and improve information sharing and reporting.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe means ensuring the men and women who protect our communities have the tools and technology they need to meet today’s public safety challenges,” Hochul said. “This investment will help agencies modernize equipment, strengthen public safety, and improve information sharing capabilities to enhance the work they do to protect the communities they serve, while continuing our comprehensive approach to reducing crime across the state.”
The LETECH program will be administered by the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services, and will fund a variety of equipment and technology, including acoustic gunshot detection systems, drones, counter-drone mitigation systems, 3-D crime scene laser scanners and more. Agencies may also purchase equipment and technology to support 911 centers, emergency management operations, parking and code enforcement and communication platforms for community engagement.
“Governor Hochul continues to secure unprecedented levels of funding for public safety. These record resources allow DCJS to do what we do best: support agencies and organizations throughout the state in their efforts to keep New Yorkers safe and help communities thrive,” New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said.
An estimated 500 agencies outside of New York City are eligible for the grants, which will be available on a tiered funding system. Grants range from $100,000 for an agency with 10 or fewer full-time officers, to $6 million for an agency with more than 1,001 officers. The new records management system will be available to all law enforcement agencies statewide.