White Plains, NY – Westchester County Police Commissioner Terrance Raynor joined state and local officials Thursday to announce an 18% decrease in index crimes across the county over the past year. The drop was highlighted during a state press conference that also showcased advanced equipment purchased through New York’s Law Enforcement Tech Grant program.
According to Gov. Kathy Hochul, the initiative has allowed departments like the Westchester County Police to upgrade vital communication and investigative tools that directly support crime prevention and response.
Detectives from the Real Time Crime Intelligence Center demonstrated several innovations, including interoperable radios that let law enforcement agencies across the region communicate instantly—replacing the old “Hotline” system once used for alerts on stolen vehicles and missing persons.
The county’s License Plate Reader (LPR) network, maintained by WCPD and the Department of Information Technology, also played a critical role in 2024. The system helped recover 345 stolen vehicles, locate 57 missing or endangered individuals, and apprehend 302 suspects linked to felony crimes.
Other tools displayed included the StarChase handheld pursuit mitigation system—allowing officers to tag and track fleeing vehicles safely—and newly issued body-worn cameras funded through the same grant program.
Commissioner Raynor credited the state’s support for the progress: “The investments made in law enforcement give us the tools we need to protect our communities more safely, more effectively, and more efficiently than ever before,” he said.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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