Port Jervis joins state SNUG anti-violence program

The City of Port Jervis has joined the ranks of the cities of Newburgh and Poughkeepsie to implement the state SNUG anti-violence program. SNUG spells GUNS backwards.

Senator James Skoufis (D, Cornwall) secured the $100,000 to fund the program, which involved the police and city working with the schools to help curb violence, said Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden.

“Also partnering with the community to bring about anti-violence prevention in neighborhoods and city parks,” he said. “We are also using the funding to increase our hotspot proactive policing in neighborhoods where we are finding statistically that we are having higher instances of violence, heavy presence, making residents feeler and preventing these acts.”

Skoufis said SNUG is a “public health approach to community violence that uses credible messengers and medication.”

Mayor Dominic Cicalese said the funding is important for the city “in order to continue to provide the high level of service our taxpayers expect.”