Larkin Announces Additional Local Operation Impact Aid

This week, Senator Bill Larkin reports to residents that both Orange and Ulster Counties are among 17 counties in the state that will receive additional aid from the state for Operation IMPACT. The funding will be directed to enhance crime-fighting efforts in communities which have experienced increases in violent crime.

"We have already seen many great improvements in our local communities over the past two years as a result of Operation IMPACT," said Senator Larkin. "This additional funding will help law enforcement continue the tremendous work they are doing to prevent crime and protect law abiding citizens."

Larkin said the goal of Operation IMPACT is to reduce violent crime in targeted

communities outside of New York City. The 17 IMPACT counties were selected based on their volume of reported major violent and property crimes known as UCR Part 1 offenses (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.)

Orange County will receive an additional $660,000 for a total of $1,120,908 since 2004 when the program was first implemented, and Ulster County will receive an additional $320,000 for a total of $450,000 since 2004.

Under the program, New York State Police IMPACT Units (officers who specialize in gang, gun and drug-trafficking crimes), investigators, crime analysts, the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the Division of Probation and Correctional Alternatives and the Division of Parole among others, provide specialized support, expertise and resources to assist local law enforcement agencies in reducing violent street crime.

For more than a decade, New York State has experienced an unprecedented reduction in crime. Over the past twelve years, violent crime in New York State has been cut in half and crime is at its lowest levels since statewide crime reporting began nearly 40 years ago.