Glen Cove to receive funds for crime-prevention and crime-solving technology, Gov. Kathy Hochul says

The Glen Cove Police Department will receive $1.1 million from New York State to purchase crime-prevention and crime-solving technology, Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Tuesday while touting an "extraordinary" decline in gun violence on Long Island.

The 44% drop in shootings with injuries during the first six months of 2024 is the result of the partnership between the state and local law enforcement agencies, Hochul said during a news conference at the North Country Reform Temple in Glen Cove.

"This is how you get ahead of the bad guys," said Hochul, who was joined at the news conference by law enforcement officials and elected leaders, including Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove). "This is our advantage — license plate readers, body cameras, patrolling equipment, camera systems. These are critical tools that become expensive for local police departments."

Glen Cove Police Chief William Whitton said the money will help make the city safer.

"With the funding level that you’ve just given us, we’re going to be able to work to keep this community as safe as it is right now, and possibly even safer," he said.

Hochul also criticized Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s plan to deputize dozens of armed residents who could be mobilized during emergencies. Community advocates have expressed fears that Blakeman would use the deputized residents to quell protests and public dissent, a charge Blakeman has denied.

Hochul said Blakeman’s plan was unnecessary because Long Island has outstanding law enforcement agencies.

"I believe in what you do," Hochul said after introducing representatives from the Suffolk and Nassau police unions to the audience. "For the life of me, I can’t understand why someone would believe there is a need to build a separate militia."

A spokesman for Blakeman did not return a request for comment.

Long Island communities policed by agencies participating in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination program — including Nassau, Suffolk and Hempstead police — saw shooting incidents with injuries drop 44% between Jan. 1 and June 30, compared to the same period last year, Hochul said. The statewide average was a 27% decline.

"Last year, shootings on Long Island reached their lowest point in recorded history," Hochul said. "On top of that last year's record, we’re down another 44% this year from then."

Hochul said she worked with state lawmakers earlier this year to secure nearly $51 million for public safety on Long Island, including nearly $1.5 million for Nassau agencies and $1.3 million for Suffolk agencies in the funding cycle that runs from July 1 to June 30, 2025.

Preliminary data reported to the state by Long Island agencies shows a 15% drop in total crimes, Hochul said, although she acknowledged that more work needs to be done to combat retail theft, hate crimes and domestic violence.

"Make America Safe Again" is the theme of the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, but Hochul said her news conference was not an attempt to blunt GOP attacks on Democrats.

"I don’t know the agenda of the Republican convention," she said.

With Akiya Dillon