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Several Hudson Valley Police Departments Get Grants For Video Equipment

Five Hudson Valley law enforcement agencies have been awarded grants to purchase video equipment to help with criminal interrogations as part of a statewide program.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Photo Credit: file photo

A total of $508,492 will be distributed to several departments in an effort to aid departments statewide, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday.

"This equipment will aid law enforcement agencies across New York in helping to ensure justice is served, the rights of individuals are preserved and officers are protected," Cuomo said. 

These Hudson Valley Police Departments will receive funds:

  • Clarkstown Police Department: $23,252
  • Carmel Police Department: $4,849
  • Mount Vernon Police Department: $19,973
  • White Plains Department of Public Safety: $1,627
  • Poughkeepsie (Town) Police Department: $9,744

Police departments, sheriff and district attorney's offices will be able to use the money to purchase video recording equipment, increase the number of rooms available to record statements, and add data storage capacity for existing equipment. 

"We are very pleased to be awarded the grant of $23,252 to upgrade our video recording system. The upgrades will increase our storage capacity and will allow us to install a separate recording system for juveniles," said Clarkstown Police Capt. Robert Mahon. "Being granted these funds gave us an opportunity to get equipment needed without having to use money from the town budget." 

Funding for the grants comes from criminal asset forfeiture funds obtained through settlements with international banks for violating U.S. sanctions and from federal funds administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services.

This is the second grant this month the Mount Vernon Police Department has received for cameras. Congressman Eliot Engel, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, secured an $84,000 grant as part of the Body Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to purchase body-worn camera for officers.

“The implementation of body cameras by local law enforcement is a common sense way to improve community relations,” he said. “I am pleased these federal funds will be utilized in Mount Vernon to keep our police and citizens safe.”

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