NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh’s successful Shot Spotter program, which faced expired funding in February, has negotiated an extension through May and city officials are hopeful they can secure the $195,000 per year to keep it going.
The program utilizes sensors placed around the city, which can identify within seconds of an incident, where gunfire occurred, how many shots were fired and from what caliber gun.
Police Chief Douglas Solomon told the city council Thursday night his department has reached out to area congressional officials and others seeking the funding.
The chief said perhaps the most promising source of long-term funding is through public-private partnerships with facilities like Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital and Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh. “What Shot Spotter can offer to various public entities like St. Luke’s and Mount Saint Mary’s is the ability to access their equipment, or our equipment so that when these incidents do occur, they are getting a heads-up on that,” he said.
The city will be meeting with community stakeholders next month to explore that possible funding source.
