$2.8 million from state to boost efforts to fight crime in three counties
Buffalo will gain two additional K-9 dogs— for narcotics and explosives — plus more surveillance cameras, anti-gang and drug efforts, and other programs as part of a package of state money allocated to Western New York under Operation IMPACT.
In all, Denise E. O’Donnell, state commissioner of criminal justice services, announced more than $2.8 million in IMPACT grants to benefit strategic crime-fighting efforts in Erie, Niagara and Chautauqua counties.
“Our award of IMPACT funds provides our local law enforcement partners with resources that they would not otherwise have, resources that allow them to identify funds and attack crime as it emerges, and we are seeing positive results,” O’Donnell said Monday.
Erie County will be allocated $1.9 million, to be shared by Buffalo police, the district attorney’s office and sheriff’s office, as well as the Probation Department and Central Police Services.
Niagara County will receive more than $660,000, while slightly more than $266,000 will go to fighting crime in Chautauqua County.
“Operation IMPACT is critically important to police operations in the city, county and throughout the Western New York region,” said Mayor Byron W. Brown of Buffalo, which will receive a large share of the funds.
“It provides resources for new technology, equipment and personnel and that helps to really establish communication and collaboration between police agencies,” Brown said.
Buffalo Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson described the additional resources as invaluable in enhancing his department’s operations.
Previous IMPACT funds have been used to outfit the city’s ComStat room in Police Headquarters as well as for crime analysts and other innovative policing programs. In 2006, IMPACT money helped fund “Operation Shock and Awe,” a three-day blitz that involved raids on 38 suspected drug houses and 76 arrests.
“It allows us to do things that we can’t do with our ordinary budget,” Gipson said. “It provides additional resources to the department.”
In addition to the dogs, the city expects to add at least three surveillance cameras, as well as five license plate reading machines, which will be provided to each policing district in the city, Gipson said.
The department’s traffic and Mobile Response Unit currently operate such devices.
Gipson said the funds also will help to place detective sergeants in each district, where they will debrief those arrested to develop intelligence to fight crime in the city.
Other funds will go to the city’s Police Explorer Post and the Omega Mentoring Program to assist inner city youths.
