Sheriff Jim Allard recently announced that the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $665,000 Technology Grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. This grant will be used to enhance the department’s crime scene investigation and intelligence capabilities through the acquisition of new technology.
The funding from the grant will be used to purchase three mobile and fixed license plate readers, a new drone for documenting fires, crash scenes, and aiding in SWAT deployments and missing persons investigations. Additionally, a 3D laser scanner will be acquired to provide instant documentation of large items and crime scenes.
The majority of the grant will be allocated towards outfitting every patrol car with dash cameras that also function as license plate readers. This will include five years of maintenance and data storage for the cameras. The implementation of this technology will improve digital evidence management and enhance data sharing with local law enforcement and crime analysis centers.
The formal acceptance of the grant award will be presented to the Steuben County Legislature in June for approval. Overall, these new technologies will enable the Sheriff’s Office to better serve the community and enhance public safety efforts.