Hochul presents a new strategy to confront Rochester’s persistent crime and gun violence

Rochester, New York – Rochester’s crime rate is on the rise, which has prompted Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a fresh blitz.

In order to address public safety issues in our neighborhood, Hochul on Monday unveiled a $24 million plan to collaborate with the Rochester Police Department and other Monroe County law enforcement organizations.

“People have a God-given right to feel safe in addition to being kept safe. I want that back because it’s what this community is currently lacking,” Hochul remarked. “Monroe County agencies requested $24 million from the state this year to modernize their equipment; that’s a big sum of money. However, we used every cent of the $24 million to assist them update their machinery.”

Several elements of the plan are intended to make Rochester people feel safer.

According to Hochul, agencies can use the money to buy body cameras, drones, mobile camera systems, license plate scanners, and smart technologies for police cars.

Hochul is assigning up to 25 more New York State Police officers to support RPD in addition to the funding.

Mayor Malik Evans claims that over a five-year period, shootings and gun violence in general have decreased in Rochester.

“Situations like Maplewood make people feel that angst — that sense that even though we are rowing in the right direction, we still have work to do,” said Evans.

Concerns about convicted felons committing crimes again after being released from prison have been voiced by law enforcement and disgruntled community members.

According to Hochul, statewide court training is being conducted in an effort to prevent more accused offenders from reoffending by putting them behind bars on bail.

“Now, what is maddening to us are those cases that you had described,” Hochul remarked. It’s not an easy task to tell the judge to apply the law a certain manner when I’m in a courtroom.

Teaching, reporting, pointing fingers, stating “Not OK,” “Not acceptable,” and “Why did you do this?” And I’m standing behind these victims’ families.”