Senator Gallivan Announces State Funding for Sheriff's Office

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) joined Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard in announcing the purchase and installation of Automatic Vehicle Locators (AVL) in Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles.  The Sheriff’s Office used $18,000 in state funding secured by Senator Gallivan to help purchase the devices.  The total investment for the vehicle locators is $44,000. 

“There is nothing more important than the safety of our citizens and the law enforcement officers that serve our community,” Gallivan said.  “These vehicle locators will assist in dispatching deputies to the scene of an incident and will help locate officers who may need assistance.  We want to make sure law enforcement has the resources they need to do their job.”

The Sheriff’s Office plans to install AVL’s in all marked patrol vehicles by March 2016.  The system will provide a visual tool for dispatchers when determining a unit’s availability and exact location.  The latest version of the technology greatly improves the reliability of the data and will refresh the dispatcher’s screen every 3-5 seconds providing them with timely information.

“I want to thank Senator Gallivan for securing the resources that will allow the Sheriff’s Office to implement a ‘closest vehicle concept’ when dispatching patrol units to emergency calls,” Howard said.  “These AVLs will allow our dispatchers to see the closest sheriff’s patrol or police vehicle and dispatch that unit to the incident.  These devices will not only allow for faster response, but will provide additional officer safety by eliminating the need for a unit deployed on the other side of a district to travel several miles to respond to a call.”

During the 2015 legislative session, Senator Gallivan secured funding through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to support local law enforcement and emergency services.