For Immediate Release: 11/01/2023
State of New York | Executive Chamber
Kathy Hochul | Governor
Governor Hochul Announces Sustained, Significant Progress Against Gun Violence and Vehicle Thefts in the City of Rochester
Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Partnerships Have Produced Results
Rochester Experienced a 17 Percent Decrease in Shooting Incidents with Injury and a 30 Percent Reduction in the Number of Individuals Killed by Gun Violence from January through October 22, 2023, vs. the Same Time Frame Last Year
Vehicle Thefts in the City Also Declined 38 Percent When Comparing Thefts in June – the Month with the Most Thefts Reported so far in 2023 – with Those Reported in August
Governor Hochul Urges Rochester and Finger Lakes Residents to Attend Software Update Clinics Hosted by Hyundai in Rochester This Month to Further Protect Their Vehicles from Theft
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced sustained, significant progress against gun violence and vehicle thefts in the city of Rochester. Federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships have produced results, including a 17 percent decrease in shooting incidents with injury (217 vs. 261) and a 30 percent reduction in the number of individuals killed by gun violence (39 vs. 56) from January 1, through October 22, 2023, vs. the same time last year. Vehicle thefts in the city declined 38 percent when comparing thefts in June, which was the month with the most thefts reported so far in 2023, to those reported in August, the month with the second-fewest thefts reported this year. Governor Hochul also urged Rochester and Finger Lake residents to attend software update clinics hosted by Hyundai in Rochester this month to further protect their vehicles.
“As Governor, my top priority is to keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “We have made record-level investments to address the scourge of gun violence affecting our communities, and we’ve launched a comprehensive strategy to combat the surge in car thefts seen across our state. We’re extremely proud of the progress we’ve made in Rochester, but we won’t rest until every New Yorker can live in the safe, peaceful community they deserve.”
Governor Hochul outlined these positive crime trends during remarks this morning at the annual Project Exile Community Report and Breakfast, hosted by Camp Good Days at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Henrietta, Monroe County. The event featured remarks from local elected officials, and local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, including federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Steven Dettelbach.
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Director Steven Dettelbach said, “Over the past year, ATF’s Rochester Violent Crime Task Force has worked tirelessly to bring federal charges against 112 defendants, seize 256 crime guns, including AK/AR style rifles and machine gun conversion devices, and help drive down the overall violent crime rate. This is dangerous, extraordinary work, and the success is because of one thing: partnership. The collaborative effort taking place in Rochester is truly one to be modeled across the country.”
Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans said, “While we still have a long way to go, the reductions we are seeing in gun violence and vehicle thefts offer clear evidence that the strategies we are employing under our partnership with federal, state and local law enforcement are working. I continue to be grateful for the focused leadership that Governor Kathy Hochul brings to this critical issue on behalf of the people of Rochester. This all-hands-on-deck approach to public safety is helping us create a safe, equitable and prosperous Rochester by inspiring hope and delivering opportunity for everyone.”
Police departments that participate in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, which includes Rochester Police, collectively have experienced the same declines this year through October 22: a 25 percent reduction (672 vs. 894) in shooting incidents with injury and 33 percent decline in the number of individuals killed by gun violence (117 vs. 175). The New York City Police Department also is reporting double-digit decreases in the number of shooting incidents and individuals shot through October 29, 2023: a 26 percent reduction in shooting incidents (834 vs. 1,119) and 377 fewer individuals injured by gunfire (982 vs. 1,359 or -28 percent).
Governor Hochul secured nearly $36.2 million for the GIVE initiative in the FY24 Budget, which includes the largest-ever investment in public safety and criminal justice funding to support Governor Hochul’s comprehensive, multifaceted approach to address gun violence, the surge in vehicle thefts and further improve public safety in communities across New York. Governor Hochul’s administration has more than quadrupled funding to Rochester in the past two years to address pandemic-era increases in gun violence and other crimes.
The state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the ATF established a unique partnership that allows Crime Analysis Centers supported by the state to access the agency’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). By the end of the year, nine centers will have the technology, which is already operational and available at the Monroe center and several others in the state’s network. This allows police investigators to process shell casings and identify potential matches from different crime scenes in multiple jurisdictions across the state more quickly and accurately, within 24 to 48 hours instead of a month and with a 99.6 percent accuracy rating. Upon receiving NIBIN results, center crime analysts compile that information and provide police with leads to investigate further.
Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Governor Hochul’s support for local law enforcement and community-based organizations working to reduce gun violence and make communities whole has been unprecedented. Our partnership with the ATF is another example of the state leveraging technology to help police and prosecutors more effectively solve, reduce and prevent crime. I commend my team for their innovative work and commitment to providing our local partners with the resources, support and tools they need further improve the safety and well-being of their communities.”
Also included in the record public safety investment secured by Governor Hochul is $17 million for the Crime Analysis Center Network, which is supported by DCJS in partnership with local law enforcement agencies. The 11 centers in the network serve more than 350 law enforcement agencies in 48 counties, as well as any agency upon request. Last year, staff at the centers responded to approximately 71,000 requests for assistance from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, helping agencies solve murders, robberies, burglaries, vehicle thefts, gun crimes, and other serious cases.
Monroe County experienced the largest increase in vehicle thefts in the nation in the first seven months of this year, with thefts in the city of Rochester driving those numbers. Six weeks ago, Governor Hochul announced the Comprehensive Auto-Theft Reduction Strategy (CARS), a series of targeted actions to combat the high number of car thefts, particularly of certain Kia and Hyundai model vehicles, in counties across New York. In Rochester so far this year, reported vehicle thefts reached a high of 634 in June, followed by two consecutive months of decline, with 542 reported in July and 394 reported in August. Only March, when 353 vehicle thefts were reported, had fewer thefts than August this year. These are the most current data reported by the Rochester Police Department (RPD) to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). RPD provides more updated crime reports on their website data. According to Rochester PD, there were 172 motor vehicle thefts in September and 155 in October 2023. This data has not yet been submitted to DCJS and vetted.
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Mark J.F. Schroeder said, “DMV and our investigators have been working closely with our law enforcement partners and our dealer partners to combat this issue. People should not have to be concerned that the vehicle they spent their hard-earned money on will be taken for a joy ride or to be used in committing a crime. We continue to be committed to get these theft numbers down and commend Governor Hochul for her leadership on this issue.”
DCJS also has $50 million available for police departments and sheriffs’ offices outside of New York City to purchase new technology and equipment to modernize their operations and more effectively solve and prevent crimes in their communities. The deadline to apply for that funding is noon on Wednesday, November 8. In addition to urging law enforcement agencies to apply for that funding, Governor Hochul reminded residents of Rochester and the Finger Lakes to attend software update clinics hosted by Hyundai from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 17 and Saturday, November 18, at the Monroe Community College parking lot at the corner of Morrie Silver Way and Oak Street in Rochester.