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Governor Kathy Hochul Announces $36 Million Investment in Local Law Enforcement to Reduce Gun Violence

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Governor Kathy Hochul has announced a significant investment in local law enforcement to bolster efforts to reduce gun violence across New York state. The $36 million funding will be allocated to 28 communities across the state through the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, a nationally recognized program that provides funding for equipment, overtime, personnel, comprehensive training, and technical assistance. The funding will enable law enforcement agencies to proactively prevent gun violence and target high-crime areas. Since its inception, the GIVE initiative has shown promising results, with a 52% reduction in shootings in participating jurisdictions between 2021 and 2024.

Key Takeaways:

  • The GIVE initiative, launched to reduce gun violence, has shown a 52% reduction in shootings in participating jurisdictions between 2021 and 2024.
  • In 2024, Long Island had the lowest number of shootings in recent recorded history.
  • The $36 million funding will be allocated to 28 communities across the state, including nine agencies on Long Island.
  • Nassau County will receive $2,324,483, including $1,345,223 for the Nassau County Police Department, $324,000 for the Nassau County Probation Department, and $225,000 for the Nassau County District Attorney.
  • Suffolk County will receive $2,314,459, including $1,333,943 for the Suffolk County Police Department, $459,998 for the Suffolk County Police Department, and $133,398 for the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office.
  • The funding will enable law enforcement agencies to reduce gun violence, with a focus on providing equipment, overtime, personnel, comprehensive training, and technical assistance.
  • The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services will work with local law enforcement and community organizations to build on successful strategies in reducing gun violence.
  • The funding is part of a broader plan by Governor Hochul to reduce firearm-related violent crime, which has seen record reductions in gun violence across New York state.

Statistics:

  • Between 2021 and 2024, shootings in GIVE jurisdictions dropped 52%.
  • In 2024, shooting incidents with injury reached the lowest point since the state began tracking data in 2006.
  • Between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2025, GIVE police departments reported 242 shooting incidents with injury, down from 281 during the same period in 2024.
  • The number of people shot declined from 354 to 275, and there were nine fewer gun violence-related deaths (49 vs. 58).
  • Nine agencies on Long Island will receive nearly $2.7 million in funding.
  • Communities participating in GIVE saw reductions in all seven index crime categories during the first quarter of 2025.
  • Preliminary data reported an 18% reduction in total index crimes, a 19% decrease in violent crime, and an 18% decline in property crimes.

Sources:

  • Office of the Governor Kathy Hochul
  • New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
  • New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James
  • Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins
  • State Senator Monica Martinez

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