ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that nearly $36 million was awarded to local law enforcement agencies across New York state to continue the efforts to reduce gun violence.
The governor also said that shooting incidents with injury are down 28 percent from last year at this time.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority,” Governor Hochul said in a statement. “We've brought gun violence down to historic lows, and we're giving local law enforcement agencies more of the resources needed to keep tackling crime throughout every corner of our state.”
The 28 percent drop represents 218 shooting incidents from Jan. 1 through May 31, 2024, compared to 303 incidents from the same time frame in 2023.
New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “The vast reduction in gun violence is an attestation to the progression we’ve made in combating the infiltration of illegal guns in New York. Our numbers prove the seizure of illegal guns is no small matter and these efforts are an integral part of protecting our communities. I offer my gratitude to Governor Hochul for the resources that are being provided to help us focus on this public safety mission.”
Data is gathered from 28 police departments across the state participating in the GIVE initiative.
Amherst, Buffalo, Cheektowaga, Jamestown, Lackawanna, and the Niagara Falls police departments all take part in the state program.
“These positive trends are a testament to the collective work done by our GIVE partner agencies, SNUG Street Outreach programs, and other community-based organizations that we fund and support. This holistic approach recognizes that enforcement alone doesn’t make neighborhoods safer," New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said in a statement.