Safer Streets: Governor Hochul Highlights $24 Million Investment in Law Enforcement Technology for 10 Police Agencies in Monroe County, Announces Double-Digit Decline in[...]

Governor Kathy Hochul today visited Rochester to highlight the state's investment of $24 million to modernize law enforcement technology and equipment across Monroe County's police departments and sheriffs' offices. The visit included a demonstration of the Rochester Police Department's new blue light cameras, which help deter and solve crimes and the city purchased through the state's Law Enforcement Technology grant program. These technology grants and sustained, record-level funding for other public safety initiatives, including the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, are contributing to safer communities across the state. Monroe County and the City of Rochester have experienced an 18 percent decrease in index crimes and the Rochester Police Department - one of 28 that participate in GIVE - has reported a 57 percent decrease in shooting incidents with injury since Governor Hochul took office.

"Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority - and that means ensuring New York's law enforcement officers are best equipped to protect our communities," Governor Hochul said. "By investing critical funds for technology enhancements for police departments statewide, we're ensuring law enforcement has the tools they need to fight crime and protect every corner of the state."

This morning, Governor Hochul visited the Rochester Police Department, touring the command room where the city's blue-light cameras are monitored. The Rochester Police Department received $10 million for new camera upgrades and additions, as well as other state-of-the-art technology. The agency and nine others in Monroe County collectively received $24 million through the LE Tech grant program. Statewide, 378 police departments and sheriffs' offices received $127 million through the Law Enforcement Tech Grant program. A list of police departments in Monroe County and other agencies across the state that received law enforcement technology grants also is online.

Police agencies in Monroe County reported an 18 percent decrease in overall crime during the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same time last year. Every one of the seven index crimes - murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft - declined throughout the county and in Rochester during the same timeframe. Notably, motor vehicle thefts in the city decreased 68 percent when comparing January through August 2025 to the same eight months in 2023, when reported thefts reached a 10-year high.

Gun violence also has plummeted in Rochester, with a 57 percent reduction in shooting incidents with injury, 60 percent decrease in the number of individuals shot, and a 56 percent drop in firearm-related homicides when comparing January through September 2025 to the same nine months in 2021, when Governor Hochul took office.

A breakdown of index crime data reported in Monroe County and Rochester is available online. Three interactive GIVE shooting data dashboards are available on the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website.

Governor Hochul also highlighted the work of the Monroe Crime Analysis Center, one of 11 in the nationally recognized, one-of-a-kind network funded and supported by DCJS in partnership with local law enforcement agencies statewide. The Monroe Center, which serves law enforcement agencies in Monroe, Wayne, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Yates, and Steuben counties, handled 28,086 requests for service last year, allowing police agencies to more effectively solve, reduce and prevent crime.

By investing critical funds for technology enhancements for police departments statewide, we're ensuring law enforcement has the tools they need to fight crime and protect every corner of the state.

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, "Governor Hochul's investments in technology are giving law enforcement the tools they need to work smarter, respond faster, and strengthen community safety. These upgrades are improving coordination and efficiency across Monroe County and beyond. The Monroe Crime Analysis Center is a powerful example of how innovation and partnership can turn data into action and help build safer neighborhoods across New York State."

Representative Joseph Morelle said, "Every family deserves the peace of mind that they and their children are safe wherever they go in our community. As Vice Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I'm working to ensure law enforcement at every level has the resources they need to protect and serve our families. I'm grateful to Governor Hochul and our local partners here in Rochester for their continued commitment to keeping our neighborhoods secure."

State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, "It's my pleasure to welcome Governor Hochul to Rochester and thank her for her continued leadership on public safety. With new state-of-the-art technology, this is a huge win for officers across Monroe County to ensure they have the tools they need to keep our communities safe.

Assemblymember Harry Bronson said, "Public safety and security for our families and residents remains a top priority. We've seen real results due to significant investments like the $10 million secured by the state for LE-TECH. This technology, alongside the hard work of law enforcement, is resulting in a significant downward trend in crime and violence at all levels. I am thankful for the leadership of Governor Hochul to address public safety. We still have work to do to ensure public safety for our residents and neighborhoods, but working in partnership with Governor Hochul, Mayor Evans, RPD and all of law enforcement, as well as my colleagues in the State Legislature, we will continue fighting to make Rochester a safe place for our families and businesses."

Assemblymember Jen Lunsford said, "Year after year we have watched crime decrease here in Monroe County, and throughout New York State, thanks to thoughtful investments just like this one from Governor Hochul. Ensuring that law enforcement has the funding and resources necessary to keep our communities safe is a key component of our public safety strategy and I am glad to see us continue those investments this year."

City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said,"It is invaluable to cities across the state to have a governor who prioritizes public safety as much as we do," said Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans. "I want to commend Gov. Hochul for making this important investment in public safety technology and thank her for directing this significant funding to the Rochester Police Department."

Monroe County Executive Adam J. Bello said, "Public safety depends not only on the courage and dedication of our police officers and sheriff's deputies, but also on our commitment to invest in the innovative tools and technology that help them prevent and solve crimes. I thank Governor Hochul for prioritizing these critical investments in public safety and for supporting the men and women who serve our community with courage, professionalism, and dignity every day."

Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said, "This investment is second to none. With the Governor's support and DCJS trust, we're turning our vision into reality; making Monroe County the most technologically advanced public safety community in New York State. This partnership is helping us build a first-of-its-kind Real Time Crime Center and a regional network that connects every law enforcement agency across the County. Through the addition of MCSO body-worn cameras, in-car cameras, license plate readers, and drones as first responders, we are putting our deputies and officers on the cutting edge of modern policing."

Monroe County District Attorney Brian Green said,"Over the past two decades, advancements in technology have transformed the way criminal cases are prosecuted. Today, we build cases on cell phone data, digital forensics, video evidence, and electronic records. The Rochester Police Department's commitment to updated and innovative technology helps to ensure strong, high-quality prosecutions for years to come. I want to thank Governor Hochul for continuing to invest in public safety right here in Monroe County."

The FY26 Enacted Budget maintained $347 million in unprecedented funding secured by Governor 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).

Contact the Governor's Press Office