Governor Hochul, Leaders From Syracuse and Buffalo Announce Progress on Coordinated Public Safety Efforts

Governor Kathy Hochul this week convened State officials, local elected leaders, law enforcement and community stakeholders from Syracuse and Buffalo for a virtual public safety briefing to discuss progress on coordinated public safety efforts. Governor Hochul highlighted the administrations funding and policies implemented to combat gun violence, violent crime and car thefts in Syracuse and Buffalo.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe has been my top priority, and with a few simple principles we are ensuring our local communities can do just that,” Governor Hochul said. “With legislation, increased funding for effective programs and initiatives, and solid partnerships between local and state agencies, we are strengthening our commitment to public safety. These meetings allow us an opportunity to get on the same page and tackle the real issues together for the sake of our state.”

This briefing follows Governor Hochul's announcement last month unveiling the five-point Comprehensive Auto-Theft Reduction Strategy (CARS) to provide support to local law enforcement to reduce car thefts across New York State, which includes $50 million for police departments and sheriffs’ offices outside of New York City to purchase new technology and equipment to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent these and other crimes.
Police departments and sheriffs’ offices have until Wednesday, Nov. 8, to apply for these funds, which can be used to purchase 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.

The FY24 Budget includes the largest-ever investment in public safety and criminal justice funding to support Governor Hochul's comprehensive, multifaceted approach to address gun violence, the surge in vehicle thefts and further improve public safety in communities across New York. Governor Hochul’s administration has more than quadrupled funding to both Buffalo and Syracuse in the past two years to address pandemic-era increases in gun violence and other crimes.

Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Maintaining open lines of communications with local leaders is key to ensuring communities have the resources they need to keep New Yorkers safe. I am proud to be a part of these important conversations and I thank Governor Hochul for her dedication to these relationships and resources. We all want the same thing: strong neighborhoods and a safe, peaceful New York.”

Buffalo
Participants from Buffalo and Erie County included Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Erie County Executive Chief of Staff Ben Swanekamp, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia, Erie County District Attorney John Flynn, representatives from the Erie County Sheriff's Office and Probation Department, Erie Crime Analysis Center Director Dennis Richards, and representatives from New York State Police and DCJS, Federal the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Governor Hochul's administration is providing $25.2 million to Buffalo and Erie County this year, compared to $5.9 million two years ago. In July, Governor Hochul announced significant progress in the fight against gun violence in Buffalo. Data reported by the city's Police Department for the first half of 2023 showed a 73 percent decline in the number of firearm-involved homicides; 60 percent decline in those injured by gunfire; and a 59 percent decline in shooting incidents when compared to the same timeframe in 2021.

That significant progress has continued to date in Buffalo. Shooting incidents involving injury in the city declined 27 percent (113 vs. 155) through Oct. 1, 2023, when compared to the same timeframe last year, and 53 percent compared to same period of 2021 (113 v. 241). In Buffalo, the number of individuals killed by firearms declined 55 percent (19 vs. 42) during the first eight months this year as compared to 2022. The total number of murders in the city decreased by 45 percent (28 vs. 51) during the first eight months of the year in 2023 vs. 2022, and violent crime (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) declined 12 percent.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, “Governor Hochul continues to lead our community in our shared, number-one priority: ensuring the safety and security of our residents. I thank her for taking the time to meet with members of my team to discuss the challenges we face on the ground in combating violent crime and the scourge of auto thefts that affects our working-class citizens. Governor Hochul is helping to ensure that our law enforcement officers and prosecutors have the tools they need to combat criminals in an increasingly challenging environment.”

Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown said, "I thank Governor Kathy Hochul for continuing to take proactive steps toward reducing auto thefts in the State of New York. This morning, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joe Gramaglia and I spoke on a virtual call with the Governor, other partners in government and law enforcement to discuss strategies to dramatically reduce auto thefts in communities across the state."

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn said, “We are committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe, removing illegal guns from the streets and holding the offenders accountable. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for investing state funds to support our coordinated efforts to reduce gun-related incidents in the City of Buffalo. With these additional resources, I am pleased to announce a decline in the number of people who have been killed or injured due to gun violence in our community. I hope to see the number of gun-involved incidents continue to decline with the support of the GIVE initiative.”

Syracuse
Participants from Syracuse and Onondaga County included Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Syracuse Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Syracuse Police Chief Joseph Cecile, City of Syracuse Chief Policy Officer Greg Loh, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelly, Onondaga Crime Analysis Center Director Ron Rockwood, and representatives from the New York State Police and NYS Division of Criminal Justice services, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Governor Hochul's administration is providing the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County $17.5 million this year, compared to $4.8 million two years ago. In Syracuse, shootings incidents with injury declined 39 percent (73 vs. 119) through Oct. 1, 2023, when compared the same timeframe last year, and 19 percent when compared to 2021 (73 vs. 90). While the number of individuals killed by gun violence through the first eight months of the year is flat (12 in both 2023 and 2022), the total number of murders reported to date are down 19 percent (13 vs. 16). Reported incidents of violent crime declined 8 percent, according to Syracuse Police data through Week 37 of this year.

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said, “With support from Governor Hochul, Syracuse and other cities in New York are reducing gun violence and violent crime. That work must continue. Communities are now facing higher levels of property crime and a serious increase in auto thefts. Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens, Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile and I appreciate Governor Hochul meeting with Syracuse and Onondaga County law enforcement to hear our concerns and maximize local, state and federal cooperation. Improving public safety and reducing crime requires collaboration among all levels of government.”

Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said, "Public safety is a top priority of my administration but in order to be effective it takes partnership and collaboration. I want to thank the Governor, Mayor Walsh, DA Fitzpatrick and all of our law enforcement partners who work hard everyday to keep us safe. With enhanced resources and a fresh look at policy changes, I am confident that we will continue to see progress in keeping our community safe."

Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said, "My deepest respect and appreciation to Governor Hochul for her commitment to end the surge of auto thefts here in Central New York and all over the State. I very much am encouraged by the Governor’s collaborative approach to this issue and her willingness to partner with New York’s DAs. Thank you Governor and I look forward to continuing our partnership under your leadership to keep New York the safest it can be."

Onondaga County Sheriff Tobias Shelley said, "Crime has no borders. We are thankful for the support from Governor Hochul, our local elected officials, and our law enforcement partners. Working together is the best way to tackle the problems in our communities.”