Gipson & Schneiderman Encourage Localities to Take Advantage of Funding to Prevent Heroin Deaths & Upgrade Police Equipment

Terry Gipson

July 7, 2014

For Immediate Release: July 7, 2014
Media Contact: Jonathan Heppner | 845.463.0840 | heppner@nysenate.gov

GIPSON & SCHNEIDERMAN ENCOURAGE LOCALITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FUNDING TO PREVENT HEROIN DEATHS & UPGRADE POLICE EQUIPMENT

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – New York State Senator Terry Gipson (D-Dutchess, Putnam) has informed localities throughout the 41st Senate District about grant opportunities for their police departments through the Office of the Attorney General. The grants are aimed at training and equipping police departments with Naloxone, also known as Narcan, to save lives during heroin overdoses and assisting police departments in obtaining new or replacing old bulletproof vests.

“During my first term in office, addressing the heroin epidemic in our community and across New York has been an important priority. I’ve also been proud to represent our hardworking law enforcement agencies throughout Dutchess and Putnam counties,” said Senator Gipson. "I commend Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for making this funding available and am pleased to work with him to ensure that our localities are able to take advantage of these programs to help save lives and ensure that our officers have the equipment they need to protect them while keeping our communities safe.”

"As Attorney General, I know first-hand how important it is for local law enforcement to have the necessary tools to save lives and keep our communities safe," said Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. "I thank Senator Gipson for encouraging local law enforcement agencies to sign onto these programs. Whether it is equipping law enforcement with a powerful tool to help save lives through my office's Community Overdose Prevention program, or providing funds to purchase bulletproof vests through our inVEST Partnership, we have an obligation to do everything in our power to provide law enforcement officers with the necessary tools to perform their sworn duties."

The Community Overdose Prevention (COP) Program funds the training and equipping of eligible law enforcement agencies throughout New York State with nasally-administered naloxone that can temporarily reverse some of the most dangerous effects of an opioid overdose when first responders arrive. The deadline for application through the Attorney General’s website has been extended to September 1, 2014. COP dedicates $5 million of funds seized as crime proceeds from joint federal and state criminal investigations to fund the purchase of a “naloxone kit” for officers who may encounter an acute opioid overdose in the line of duty. The funding will reimburse law enforcement agencies for:

The expense of equipping officers who might encounter an acute opioid overdose with one full naloxone kit.

Any necessary expense to train officers to administer the naloxone kit (which is as required for police officers to carry naloxone).

Replacing the naloxone kits as necessary on a first-come first-served basis, pending the availability of remaining funds at the time the kits need to be replaced.

The inVEST Partnership is a program dedicated to assisting New York State law enforcement agencies with the purchase of vital and lifesaving bulletproof vests. Attorney General Schneiderman has allocated $3.5 million in funds seized as crime proceeds from joint federal and state criminal investigations in order to provide financial relief to select New York State law enforcement agencies seeking to purchase bulletproof vests. The Office of the Attorney General will provide selected agencies with up to 50 percent matching funds to purchase new vests. Law enforcement agencies in New York State in need of new or replacement bulletproof vests are encouraged to apply to the inVEST Partnership. The deadline for application through the Attorney General’s website is July 15, 2014.

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Additional Information:

Senator Gipson recently co-hosted a Heroin Prevention Panel and Narcan Training with the Council on Addiction Prevention & Education of Dutchess County, Inc. (CAPE), which was sponsored by Health Quest.

Senator Gipson has also introduced and co-sponsored multiple pieces of legislation in the State Senate aimed at combating the heroin epidemic in our communities and across New York State.

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