Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that New York State will provide a total of $900,000 in grants to fund neighborhood-based violence reduction programs on Long Island and the Capital Region to target and reduce gun violence through outreach and intervention in the state’s urban areas.

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New York State has launched a multifaceted media campaign to educate the public about heroin and opioid abuse and misuse. The campaign includes a new website – http://combatheroin.ny.gov – that is designed for parents, adults and young people who are seeking help and information about this growing epidemic.

The site includes information about warning signs of heroin and opioid abuse and misuse, access to state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services treatment providers, and guidance to help parents talk to their children and health care professionals talk with their patients. It also includes links to four public service announcements and video messages from New Yorkers talking about the impact of heroin and other opioids on their lives.

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Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that New York State leads the nation in reducing both crime and incarceration rates over the past two decades, according to research recently published by The PEW Charitable Trusts. The study, based on data from the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI, shows that New York’s imprisonment rate has dropped 24 percent since 1994 and that the crime rate also declined dramatically during the same timeframe, by 54 percent. Additionally, for 2013 the New York crime rate has reached an all-time low with a continued decline in the first six months of 2014.

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The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has been made aware of telephone scams in which individuals claim to be affiliated with DCJS. People living in Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan and Nevada have reported receiving such calls. DCJS is in no way affiliated with these individuals and does not collect loans or otherwise seek to obtain or recover payments from people. If you receive such a call, please contact your local law enforcement agency to make them aware of the matter.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has awarded three members of the Suffolk County Police Department with the New York State Police Officer of the Year Award: Sgt. Christopher Prokesch, Sgt. Ryan Sefton, and Officer John Klein. The three officers confronted a man wielding a semiautomatic rifle after responding to a call in the hamlet of Shirley, and quickly acted to ensure both the safety of nearby residents and their law enforcement colleagues.

The Police Officer of the Year Award was created in 1983 to recognize a single police officer, or team of officers, for an exceptional act of valor symbolizing the service of police in New York State. The award was first presented in 1984.

Eight officers from five other law enforcement agencies across the state also were nominated for the award. Those officers all will receive Certificates of Exceptional Valor from the Governor.

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Read about Past Recipients of the Award »