Hochul attributes 28% city crime drop to $6.7M law enforcement upgrades
NY Governor Kathy Hochul announced Syracuse crime is down 28% from last year, accrediting $6.7 million tech upgrades. The funds, part of a $127 million statewide grant, supported tools like a new Crime Analysis Center and robotic police dog. Courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul's office
Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox.
Subscribe to our newsletter here.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said crime in the city of Syracuse is down 28% from last year after a $6.7 million investment in law enforcement technology.
Hochul visited the Syracuse Police Department’s public safety building on Monday, highlighting the department’s newest upgrades. Hochul said the additions come as part of a greater $30 million investment over the past two years in an effort to decrease gun violence in the city.
The upgrades, part of a $127 million statewide grant distributed last year, helped the city purchase new technology, including a Crime Analysis Center, drones and a robotic police “dog” for violent situations, Hochul said.
“We’ve also realized that there’s ways that we could be supportive and help drive down the crime statistics that were really escalating for a number of years,” Hochul said.
Syracuse Chief of Police Joe Cecile said the Crime Analysis Center has over 500 cameras around the city, surveilled by retired police officers, monitoring frequent crime “hotspot” areas.
Ilyan Sarech | Design Editor
Cecile said SPD has caught armed civilians and stopped car break-ins following the implementation of city-wide surveillance cameras.
The robot “dog,” which SPD announced in the spring, was created to enter enclosed spaces or situations deemed too dangerous for law enforcement. The robot takes photos and sends them back to officers, meant to de-escalate violent situations “without putting an officer in harm’s way,” Hochul said.
In addition, after a rise of youth violence last year, Hochul highlighted a 2024 $3.2 million investment in Project RISE, which provides more funding to crime prevention youth organizations throughout the city.
Hochul said violent crime in the city is down 14% from last year, and shootings have dropped 52% in the past five years.
“What I have learned is: listen to local communities,” Hochul said. “Find out what their leaders need to keep the communities safe, but also how to improve coordination.”
