Nassau, Suffolk get additional state aid to combat gun violence
Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks Wednesday at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood, where she announced that $36 million will go to law enforcement in the state to help combat gun violence. Credit: Newsday / James Carbone
Long Island law enforcement agencies will receive nearly $2.7 million in state funding for a program aimed at reducing gun violence, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.
The state awarded $36 million to 28 law enforcement agencies for the Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, a decade-old program used to combat gun violence in communities outside New York City.
Five agencies in Nassau County will receive a total of $1.35 million and four departments in Suffolk County will also receive $1.3 million, according to the governor. Hochul said funding, which is double the total awarded in 2023, is primarily used for departments to hire personnel, buy equipment, pay overtime and enhance training.
“Our work is always far from done when it comes to protecting people because one crime, one shooting, is one too many,” Hochul said at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood.
Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. said his department has been using funds through the GIVE program since its inception in 2014. He said the sheriff’s office does firearm recovery, background check investigations and enforcing extreme risk protection orders when a court orders someone who may be dangerous to themselves or others to relinquish firearms.
The sheriff can also use funding toward the Gang Resistance & Education program taught to youth by specially trained deputy sheriffs and correction officers.
The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office is slated to receive $564,291 and the Suffolk County Police Department will receive $459,998. The Nassau County Police Department will receive $486,223 and the Nassau County Probation Department will receive $324,000.
Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said “getting illegal guns off the street is one of the best things we can do.” A spokesman for Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman did not return a call seeking comment on the grants.
Agencies that receive GIVE funding are required to report shooting incidents that result in injuries to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. A monthly report published by the state July 14 found the 28 departments receiving funding saw 14% fewer shootings compared to the same time period last year.
Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.
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