Crime rates down in Erie County after law enforcement technology grants, Hochul says

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Monday decreased crime rates in Erie County compared to last year, which she attributes to the implementation of new technology in police agencies across the state.

Western New York received a total of $19 million in a $127 million statewide investment for new technology in local law enforcement, which Hochul first announced last May. Hochul visited the Tonawanda Police Department, which received $734,000 in funding, for Monday’s announcement.

According to Hochul, index crime in Erie County is down 13%, murder in the county is down 23% and shootings in Buffalo are down 22%. In the Town of Tonawanda, index crime is down 11% since last year, violent crime is down 36%, motor vehicle theft is down 46% and property crime is down 9%.

With the funding, Tonawanda police received 24 communication headsets for its SWAT team, a drone for tactical operations, body worn cameras, virtual reality headsets for training, a 3D scanner for documenting crime scenes and accidents, 25 computers for police vehicles, and new security cameras for the department.

“The 3D crime scene scanner, which is quite remarkable, in just four minutes, it absorbs thousands and thousands of data points. It can literally recreate a crime scene,” Hochul said. “Now the police can perform a detailed forensic analysis without even having to return to the crime scene over and over and over because all of that data is captured and analyzed right back here.”

The VR headsets offer “reality-based training scenarios” with subjects to practice deescalation techniques as well as taser and gun training with simulated instruments.

A total of 378 police departments and sheriffs’ offices across the state received the technology funding.

Watch Monday’s full press conference in the video player below.