For Immediate Release: 06/20/2023
State of New York | Executive Chamber
Kathy Hochul | Governor
Governor Hochul Announces Nearly $36.2 Million to Law Enforcement Agencies Participating in State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative
Record-Level Funding Secured by the Governor Expands Nationally Recognized Initiative to Eight New Police Departments, Four Additional Counties
GIVE Funding Now Supports 28 Police Departments, and District Attorneys’ Offices, Probation Departments, and Sheriffs’ Offices in 21 Counties Hardest Hit by Gun Violence and Violent Crime
53 Percent Increase in Illegal Gun Seizures (2018 vs. 2022), and Double-Digit Declines in Gun Violence in Communities Currently Participating in GIVE, and in New York City Thus Far This Year
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced nearly $36.2 million to law enforcement agencies participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative. The record-level funding secured by the Governor in the FY 2024 Budget has allowed the state to expand the nationally recognized initiative to eight new police departments and four additional counties. GIVE funding now supports 28 police departments, and district attorneys’ offices, probation departments, and sheriffs’ offices in 21 counties outside of New York City hardest hit by gun violence and violent crime. At the same time, Governor Hochul announced a 53 percent increase in illegal gun seizures when comparing 2018 to 2022, and double-digit declines in gun violence in communities currently participating in GIVE, and in New York City, so far this year.
“Addressing gun violence takes a comprehensive, multifaceted approach, but support for our local law enforcement partners on the front lines of this fight is paramount,” Governor Hochul said. “I am proud to provide our current partners with significant increases in funding and extend the GIVE initiative to additional communities so they can implement evidence-based strategies and have the resources they need to get guns off our streets and drive down violent crime.”
“This investment will ensure our law enforcement agencies can continue playing a critical role in combating gun violence statewide,” said Lieutenant Governor Delgado. “We’re supporting proven strategies to address crime and build safer communities across New York.”
Governor Hochul this morning announced the grants and significant progress in removing illegal guns from the state’s communities after meeting with members of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns. Last year, police agencies across the state seized 10,427 illegal guns, a 53 percent increase when compared to 2018 (6,819 guns), and a 15 percent increase as compared to 2021, when 9,088 guns were seized. The New York State Police alone seized 1,429 illegal guns in 2023, as compared to 551 in 2018: a 159 percent increase.
The Governor also highlighted double-digit decreases in gun violence data recently reported by the 20 police departments currently participating in GIVE, and the New York City Police Department. Shooting incidents with injury in GIVE communities declined 28 percent (292 vs. 407), and the number of individuals shot decreased 27 percent (346 vs. 475) during the first five months of 2023 as compared to the same timeframe last year. Both of these gun violence indicators have been trending below the five-year average (2018 - 2022) since January 2023. In addition, 37 fewer individuals (51 vs. 88, -42 percent) were killed by gun violence when comparing January through May of this year with the same five-month period in 2022, and that indicator has been trending below the five-year average since March 2023. In the five boroughs, shooting incidents and the number of individuals shot both decreased by 25.6 percent through June 11, 2023, as compared to the same period last year.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services established the GIVE initiativethe GIVE initiative a decade ago to provide funding, training and technical assistance to 20 police departments and district attorneys’ offices, probation departments, and sheriffs’ offices in the 17 counties outside of New York City that account for more than 80 percent of the violent crime in the state: Albany (Albany Police), Broome (Binghamton Police), Chautauqua (Jamestown Police), Dutchess (Poughkeepsie Police), Erie (Buffalo Police), Monroe (Rochester Police), Nassau (Nassau County, and Hempstead Police), Niagara (Niagara Falls Police), Oneida (Utica Police), Onondaga (Syracuse Police), Orange (Newburgh, and Middletown Police), Rensselaer (Troy Police), Rockland (Spring Valley), Schenectady (Schenectady), Suffolk (Suffolk County Police), Ulster (Kingston Police) and Westchester (Mt. Vernon, and Yonkers Police).
The infusion of record-level funding secured by Governor Hochul will allow DCJS to provide additional funding to existing GIVE agencies; expand the initiative to Cayuga (Auburn Police), Chemung (Elmira Police), Jefferson (Watertown Police) and Tompkins (Ithaca Police) counties; and add four new police departments to current GIVE partnerships: Amherst, Cheektowaga, and Lackawanna in Erie County, and Greece in Monroe County.
DCJS analyzed shooting, violent crime, and violent crime by firearm data to identify the new counties and police departments and allocate the funding. The agency developed a two-tier system: Tier 1 grantees will continue to focus on shootings and firearm-related crimes, and Tier 2 grantees will focus on violent crime reduction. Agencies receiving funding in the 21 counties must collaborate to develop a comprehensive plan outlining the evidence-based strategies they will use to address shootings or violent crime in the targeted communities.
The GIVE grant cycle runs from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, and agencies will use funding for personnel, overtime, equipment and technology. The total grant award for each county will be shared among the police departments listed and their respective county district attorneys’ offices, probation departments and sheriffs’ offices, according to each county plan.
Capital Region
- Tier I: Albany Police Department and Albany County agencies: $2,441,289; Troy Police Department and Rensselaer County agencies: $1,285,599; and Schenectady Police Department and Schenectady County agencies: $1,200,773
- Tier I: Syracuse Police Department and Onondaga County agencies: $3,231,376
- Tier II: Auburn Police Department and Cayuga County agencies: $370,655
- Rochester Police Department (Tier 1), Greece Police Department (Tier II) and Monroe County agencies: $6,254,325
- Tier I: Nassau County Police Department, Hempstead Police Department and Nassau County agencies: $1,660,769; and Suffolk County Police Department and Suffolk County agencies: $1,307,677
- Tier I: Mount Vernon Police Department, Yonkers Police Department and Westchester County agencies: $1,560,120; and Poughkeepsie Police Department and Dutchess County agencies: $1,406,363
- Newburgh Police Department (Tier I) and Middletown Police Department (Tier II) and Orange County agencies: $1,782,060
- Tier II: Kingston Police Department and Ulster County agencies: $405,525; and Spring Valley Police Department and Rockland agencies: $357,920
- Tier I: Utica Police Department and Oneida County agencies: $1,435,330
- Tier II: Watertown Police Department and Jefferson County agencies: $507,948
- Tier II: Binghamton Police Department and Broome County agencies: $872,833; Ithaca Police Department and Tompkins County agencies: $383,595; and Elmira Police Department and Chemung County agencies: $383,147
- Buffalo Police Department (Tier I); Amherst Police Department, Cheektowaga Police Department and Lackawanna Police Department (Tier II) and Erie County agencies: $6,482,391
- Tier I: Niagara Falls Police Department and Niagara County agencies: $2,188,290
- Tier II: Jamestown Police Department and Chautauqua County agencies: $682,014
I am proud to provide our current partners with significant increases in funding and extend the GIVE initiative to additional communities so they can implement evidence-based strategies and have the resources they need to get guns off our streets and drive down violent crime.
Governor Kathy Hochul
Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “We are committed to doing everything in our power to keep our communities safe from senseless acts of gun violence. In this fight against gun violence, it is important to make sure our local law enforcement agencies and community support services have the resources they need to do the work that will get guns off our streets and this funding will do just that.”
Acting New York State Police Superintendent Steven A. Nigrelli said, “I commend Governor Hochul for her continued commitment to the GIVE initiative and our shared focus on curbing the gun violence in our communities. As evidenced by the shooting of our New York State Trooper Richard Albert this past Friday, this is a critical issue to all New Yorkers, and thanks to the support of the Governor we can continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to stop the infiltration of illegal guns into our state and communities and the violent crimes that are perpetuated with them.”
Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone said, “It is critical that we do everything we can to ensure our Law Enforcement Agencies have the funds and tools necessary to investigate, prevent and respond to criminal incidents. I am proud that Suffolk County is able to partake in the state’s Gun Involved Gun Violence Elimination initiative, further expanding our commitment to public safety. I would like to thank Governor Hochul for her continued support of our Police Departments.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for allocating additional resources for Nassau’s law enforcement agencies to help our officers keep illegal guns off our streets and out of the hands of criminals.”
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “Albany is proud to be home to the newest and largest Crime Analysis Center in New York State. The work happening in New York’s Capital City and across the State is clearly paying dividends because the Albany Police Department, New York State Police, and other law enforcement agencies are taking a record number of illegal guns off our streets and apprehending the violent individuals who use them. Thank you to Governor Hochul for creating the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns and her additional historic investments to the GIVE programs and other initiatives that are enhancing public safety.”
Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh said, “High levels of gun-involved crime in Syracuse are a unique challenge which require comprehensive solutions and collective action to address. With this $1.3 million in GIVE funding, the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) can dedicate more resources to direct street outreach and Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategies. I am grateful to Governor Hochul and the Division of Criminal Justice Services for their support of Syracuse, and thank SPD for its continued dedication to protecting our city.”
Mt. Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and Everytown Co-Chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns said, “Mount Vernon is excited to see our GIVE grant double under Governor Hochul. Our Governor understands the need for interagency coordination which allows us to take more guns off the street. These efforts result in reduced gun related violence and incidents. Thank you Governor Hochul, not only for leading the nation in adopting gun sense laws, but putting the funding into our local communities to implement gun reduction strategies that help us protect and serve our communities.”
Binghamton Mayor Jared M. Kraham said, “This boost in GIVE funding was a direct ask I made of Governor Hochul, and she has delivered. This funding will support local law enforcement agencies - especially the Binghamton Police Department - in rooting out illegal guns and protecting our neighborhoods from violent crime. I’m grateful to the Governor for delivering on this much-needed funding to help keep our community safe.”
Elmira Mayor Dan Mandell said, “I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership in supporting the GIVE initiative. Addressing gun violence is critical in maintaining public safety. The funds our City has been awarded is going to greatly assist our agency as well as the other agencies in our County combat gun violence and help get illegal guns as well as those who possess illegal guns off the street.”
Ithaca Mayor Laura Lewis said, “Receiving the GIVE grant has provided us the resources needed to work together with our community to address violent crime in a meaningful and productive way. A sense of safety and security is something all residents of Ithaca and Tompkins County are entitled to.”
Auburn Mayor Michael D. Quill said, This Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) Initiative funding will be a great resource for our City and County law enforcement agencies. The program focusses on evidence-based strategies and encourages all agencies within our county to coordinate. We thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing the GIVE program and providing Auburn and Cayuga County with these resources to make our community a safer place.”
Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said, “The increase in funding for the GIVE Initiative will allow our officers to run more directed patrols, increase youth violence interruption programs, and allow our police to get more illegal guns off the street. I thank Governor Hochul for her hard work in securing this funding to help us end the scourge of gun violence in our communities.”
Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri said, “The City of Utica and the State of New York continue to work together diligently to address gun violence and keep our residents safe. The GIVE initiative is critical to these efforts and I would like to thank Gov. Hochul for continuing to address gun violence proactively and vigorously. This award follows the state helping to establish a SNUG program in Utica and the City of Utica hiring more officers, installing more cameras and purchasing more equipment to combat gun violence. Utica can only be the best little city in the world if every resident feels safe and protected.”
Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said, “Gun violence continues to impact cities across New York State. Our City appreciates the commitment of Governor Hochul to attacking this problem. This funding will allow our Niagara Falls Police Department to increase its efforts to remove illegal guns from our streets and continue to fight gun violence in our City.”
Village of Hempstead Mayor Waylyn Hobbs, Jr. said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for awarding us the GIVE Grant. It will assist the Hempstead Police Department to continue providing public safety in the Village of Hempstead. We have seen firsthand the effectiveness of this program by removing many illegal handguns from our streets.”
Troy Mayor Wm. Patrick Madden said, “I appreciate Governor Kathy Hochul’s continued partnership in making Troy a safe place to live through additional Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative funding, a program which has bolstered our police department’s ability to close cases and keep illegal firearms off our streets. The threat to public safety posed by firearms is not unique to any of our cities, which is why statewide initiatives that support local law enforcement are such important and effective solutions.”
Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. said, “Suffolk County leads the way in combatting senseless gun violence and getting illegal firearms off our streets. Thank you to Governor Hochul for increasing GIVE funding which will assist Suffolk County’s law enforcement agencies in continuing our work to keep residents safe.”
Founder of the Scott J. Beigel Memorial Fund Linda Beigel Schulman said, “With today’s announcement, Governor Hochul shows her relentless commitment to putting an end to preventable gun violence in New York. The GIVE initiative is a continuing example of Gov. Hochul’s priority to safeguard and protect the people of New York. I applaud her for unwavering dedication. Gov. Hochul’s leadership is directly responsible for the increase in illegal guns seizures. Getting illegal guns, including Ghost Guns, off the street of New York has always been a priority of Gov. Hochul. With the GIVE initiative, New Yorker’s are safer and more secure. After all, we all have the right to be safe and we all have the right to live without fear!!!”
Senior Vice President for Law and Policy at Everytown for Gun Safety Nick Suplina said, “This investment by Governor Hochul continues her commitment to taking a holistic and collaborative approach toward tackling gun violence. It is vital that law enforcement, state agencies, and violence intervention programs have adequate resources to implement evidence-based solutions that can end the cycle of gun violence that plagues communities throughout New York.”
Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey said, “Governor Hochul has delivered once again to the City of Newburgh, NY & Orange County; as she has many times in the past! The additional funding totaling more than 1.7million dollars under the GIVE program which is Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative is well needed in a significant way for our police department & city government . These financial resources allow us to be creative & innovative in our efforts & methods to eliminate gun violence. We all know that law enforcement & our urban communities throughout the state of NY can not arrest their way out of a very intricate complex problem. We must come together with real solutions and dollars to educate and train our youth for meaningful employment. Poverty is directly correlated to a life of crime. We must keep our youth engaged & focused on ‘Real Skills’ to pay bills!”
Deputy Chief Counsel at Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence David Pucino said, “With illegal guns from other states flooding New York streets, Governor Hochul understands that making communities safe requires a multifaceted approach. GIFFORDS is proud to see important investment in New York’s groundbreaking SNUG program, which will support the street outreach workers, hospital responders, and social workers who work on-the-ground in communities to disrupt the cycle of violence. Further, the evidence-based and Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) underlying the GIVE Initiative provide important tools and training to local law enforcement agencies. New York continues to be a national leader in implementing proven gun violence reduction strategies.”
Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence Rebecca Fischer said, “We need a comprehensive approach to reducing gun violence that supports and empowers victims and their families and holds the highest drivers of gun violence accountable. Expanded funding for the state’s GIVE initiative is a necessary step to ensure that evidence-based strategies to reducing shootings are implemented and to train law enforcement to utilize equitable, best practices to stop the flow of illegal guns into New York’s most vulnerable communities.”
The expansion of GIVE is a key component of Governor Hochul’s comprehensive funding plan to address gun violence and create a safer state, which also recognizes the importance of a multifaceted approach improving public safety. The FY24 State Budget also provides significant funding to community-based organizations across the state that use a public health approach to address gun violence: identify the source, interrupt the transmission, and treat those affected. This includes $20 million for the SNUG Street Outreach program administered and supported by DCJS in Albany, the Bronx, Buffalo, Hempstead, Mt. Vernon, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, Poughkeepsie, Syracuse, Rochester, Troy, Utica, Wyandanch and Yonkers. A SNUG program in Schenectady is slated to begin this fall. DCJS, in partnership with local law enforcement agencies, also supports a network of 10 Crime Analysis Centers that provide critical analysis, information and investigative support to police and prosecutors across the state. An 11th Center is being established in New York City with $1 million secured by Governor Hochul in the FY 2024 Budget, bringing the state’s investment in the network to $17 million.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides critical support to all facets of the state’s criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; overseeing a law enforcement accreditation program; ensuring Breathalyzer and speed enforcement equipment used by local law enforcement operate correctly; managing criminal justice grant funding; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; overseeing county probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs; and coordinating youth justice policy. Follow DCJS on Facebook and Twitter.