Safer streets: Hochul highlights $19 million investment in law enforcement technology across WNY

$127 million in funding statewide enables local police departments and sheriffs’ offices across to modernize operations, improve officer safety, protect people

√ Investments in law enforcement delivering results as crime in Erie County down 14%, while shootings are down 22% in Buffalo

Submitted by the Office of Gov. Kathy Hochul

Gov. Kathy Hochul visited the Town of Tonawanda Police Department on Monday to highlight more than $19 million in state investments that are modernizing law enforcement technology and equipment across Western New York’s police agencies. The visit included a tour and demonstration featuring the department’s state-of-the-art technology purchased with the state’s law enforcement technology grants, including a new 3-D scanner to document crime scenes and accidents, virtual reality training system, and new communications equipment. Distributed to 378 police departments and sheriffs’ offices statewide, the $127 million is delivering results by improving officer safety, protecting New Yorkers and strengthening operations. Thanks to Hochul’s investments in public safety across the state, index crime in Erie County is down 14% while shootings in the City of Buffalo are down 22%.

“Law enforcement officers are on the frontlines of keeping New York communities safe. That is why we’re investing in enhanced technology and equipment that enables them to do their jobs efficiently, effectively and safely,” Hochul said. “With the purchase of top-of-the-line tools, police and local law enforcement officers are better equipped to keep themselves and all New Yorkers safe from harm.”

The Tonawanda Police Department received more than $700,000, allowing the agency to purchase state-of-the-art headsets for the SWAT team to enhance communication, upgraded technology for patrol vehicles, and a drone and new body cameras. Additionally, grant funding was used to obtain four Axon virtual reality bundles – reality-based training scenarios to trigger similar stress responses to those an officer may encounter in the field – as well as a 3-D scanner to document and reconstruct accident scenes and crime scenes, and a crash data recorder to recover data from the vehicle’s black box.

A full rundown of Western New York agencies that received significant grant awards is available online.

The governor also highlighted the latest crime statistics reported by the Tonawanda Police Department and law enforcement agencies in Erie County. In Tonawanda, crime has fallen across the board from January-June 2025 compared to the same time period in 2024: index crime is down 11%, violent crime is down 36%, property crime is down 9% and motor vehicle theft is down 46%. At the same time, index crime fell by 13%, murders dropped 23% and property crime is down 14% in Erie County.

The Buffalo Police Department, which participates in New York’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, is one of several jurisdictions that have seen significant declines in gun violence this year. When comparing January through August 2025 to the same period last year, shooting incidents with injury were down 22%, and the number of shooting victims was down 31% in Buffalo.

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Thanks to Gov. Hochul’s record investments, police agencies across Western New York now have access to modern tools that improve officer safety, enhance investigations, and help reduce crime. These grants ensure local law enforcement has the technology they need to protect their communities and strengthen public safety.”

These technology investments and state-supported efforts in Western New York come as the region faces funding cuts to public safety emergency preparedness from the federal government. Each year, New York state administers approximately $2.6 million worth of counter terrorism grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Western New York region. The grants this year – FY2025 – have been cut by 40%, or a nearly $1 million cut to law enforcement and public safety in the Western New York region.

New York State Sen. Sean Ryan said, “Thanks to the dedicated work of law enforcement and continued state investments in public safety, crime is down here in Erie County and across New York state. By providing our local police departments with funding and the best available training and technology, we can continue to ensure they are prepared to protect and serve local neighborhoods. I'm proud to work with Gov. Hochul to secure this significant state investment for the Town of Tonawanda, and I thank her for visiting the Tonawanda Police Department to see this funding in action.”

Assemblymember Bill Conrad said, “As a large and densely populated first-ring suburb of Buffalo, the town holds an important role in the public safety community of Western New York. We know that, when we equip our officers with the tools and training they need to do their jobs, our people and properties are better protected from bad actors – and we know, too, that the tools at their disposal must keep pace with the rapidly evolving technology of law enforcement. I am thankful to Gov. Hochul for her partnership here, and across our region. The latest crime statistics offer encouraging evidence that investments in our police departments support a stronger, safer New York.”

The FY26 enacted budget maintained $347 million in unprecedented funding secured by Hochul for gun violence prevention programs, including GIVE, and supports additional initiatives to improve public safety, expand support for victims and survivors of crime, and strengthen communities.

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, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).