After advocating for the restoration of public safety, Assemblyman Matt Slater (R,C-Yorktown) announced a more than $1.5 million investment in police departments across the 94th Assembly District. This funding, secured through the FY 2025 Enacted Budget, will support 378 law enforcement agencies across the state that applied for financial assistance last fall.

“Public safety is my top priority, and we are continuing to make record investments in law enforcement to ensure they have the resources needed to protect our communities,” said Slater. “By investing in the latest technology and equipment, we are addressing the needs of law enforcement agencies as they work to safeguard the future of our state.”

The allocated funds will enable police departments and sheriffs’ offices to purchase new technology and equipment, modernizing their operations and enhancing their ability to solve and prevent crimes. The grants will cover a range of equipment and technology, including but not limited to, license plate readers, mobile and fixed camera systems, computer-aided dispatch systems, software, unmanned aerial vehicles, gunshot detection devices and smart equipment for patrol vehicles and police officers.

Notable allocations include:

• Brewster: $81,500
• Carmel: $408,840
• Putnam Sheriff: $119,412
• Kent: $150,290
• Putnam County 911: $255,000
• Town of Yorktown: $539,000

The Town of Kent Police Department released a statement celebrating the endowment, saying: “In the fall of 2023, Lt. Alex VanderWoude applied for much-needed computers, cameras, scanners and other equipment through the DCJS Law Enforcement Tech Grant. By the spring of 2024, the Town of Kent Police Department was notified by DCJS that they would be a grant recipient of more than $150,000. The equipment will be used in everything from daily patrols to long-term investigations and for documenting crime scenes and automobile incidents. We appreciate the support from our state lawmakers in helping local law enforcement stay up to date on technology.”

Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne said, “It’s critical that our emergency services personnel have quality, top-of-the-line equipment to best provide for the safety of our community. I appreciate Assemblyman Slater for helping bring Putnam County this much-needed funding, and I look forward to working with our first responders and law enforcement officials to see it go to great use.”

Putnam County Sheriff Kevin McConville said, “The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department relies on evolving technology to augment and enhance public safety. Thanks to Assemblyman Slater’s support, these funds will provide valuable support to some of our existing programs. Assemblyman Slater understands the needs of law enforcement to protect the public.”

Yorktown Police Chief Robert Noble said, “The Yorktown Police Department is proud to receive state funding of $539,000 to enhance our technological capabilities in the effort to keep our residents as safe as possible. These dollars wouldn’t happen without the support of our state representatives, and Assemblyman Slater has remained as engaged and supportive of our agency as he was as Town Supervisor. While there is more action the state government can take to address public safety that the Assemblyman is leading the charge on, this grant will go a long way to helping us stay two steps ahead of criminals in our community.”

Carmel Police Chief Anthony Hoffman said, “The Town of Carmel Police Department greatly appreciates Assemblyman Matt Slater’s ongoing support of our mission by securing over $400,000 from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Law Enforcement Technology (LETECH) Grant for the Carmel Police. We will utilize this support to upgrade our computer aided dispatch and records keeping software, as well as to acquire a new unmanned aerial drone to aid in suspect and missing persons searches, a 3D laser vehicle accident and crime scene mapping scanner to aid our detectives and computerized traffic data collection equipment to help keep our roads safe. Assemblyman Slater has been our voice up in Albany, and his continuing commitment to public safety in bringing back this much needed funding helps keep the Town of Carmel among the safest communities in New York and the United States. Thank you Matt!”

This investment reflects steps towards the state’s commitment to providing law enforcement agencies with the necessary tools to ensure the safety and security of New York’s communities, but Slater will remain steadfast in calling for larger investments as public safety remains a top concern for New Yorkers.