NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh’s application seeking over $430,000 in federal Department of Justice funding to purchase the “ShotSpotter” program has a new strong backer. Senator Charles Schumer wrote to federal officials urging them to approve funding for the program to help fight crime.
The state Division of Criminal Justice Services reported between 2006 and 2016 the number of shooting victims rose from four to 55. In 2015 alone, there were 43 shooting incidents involving 55 victims.
ShotSpotter technology enables police to pinpoint exactly where gunshots are fired so officers can quickly get to the location.
“The City of Newburgh needs all the held it can get to lower this disturbing uptick in violent crime and the federal government should be stepping in to help,” Schumer said.
Police Chief Daniel Cameron said they believe the tool “will make our community safer as it has in many other major cities across the nation.”
Michael McLymore, executive director of Human Resources for the Enlarged Newburgh City School District and pastor at Founder of Life Restoration Church in Newburgh, said the ShotSpotter program would be “a wonderful way to help the police department identify and respond in a timely manner to shots being fired in various areas in Newburgh.”
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