The Village of Hempstead recorded zero shootings during the first six months of 2026, a significant public safety milestone that village officials credit to proactive policing, community engagement and strategic deployment of officers.
According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the village reported no shootings from January through June, compared with four during the same period last year.
Village officials announced the figures July 29 while also unveiling expanded foot and bicycle patrols in the downtown business district, around the Long Island Rail Road station and the NICE Bus terminal, as well as an enhanced police drone program designed to improve response times and crime prevention.
Mayor Waylyn Hobbs Jr. and Police Chief Richard Holland said the initiatives build on a policing strategy that emphasizes visibility, accessibility and strong relationships with residents and business owners.
“We are here to announce the great news we just received from the Department of Justice that Hempstead is one of the many villages or cities that received a grant,” Hobbs said. “We are the only who received the grant that as of today (July 29) has had zero shootings, zero homicides, zero injuries with firearms.”
The department has certified 20 officers for bicycle patrol, with as many as six assigned each day to patrol downtown streets and village parks. The village also deploys an average of seven officers on foot patrol daily, with all newly hired officers initially assigned to walk beats.
“The bike patrol offers the element of surprise and faster response than our officers on foot,” Holland said. “The foot patrol offers the advantage of accessibility that may not be available to the bike patrol.”
Officials said the combination of foot and bicycle patrols has strengthened officers’ connections with the community while allowing them to respond more quickly to quality-of-life concerns and emerging incidents.
“The community has responded well,” Sgt. Mark Perez, who supervises the bicycle patrol, said. “When they see the bike patrol, they are excited. Bike patrol can go places that the patrol cars can’t go.”
Holland said officers assigned to the village’s busy transportation hub take a broader approach to policing by connecting vulnerable residents with available services.
“It is about community engagement and the quick response time,” Holland said. “As for engagement, at the transportation hub — the Long Island Rail Road and NICE bus stations — we take a holistic approach. If we see someone homeless or sleeping at the station, we ask them what services and resources are available. Can we connect them to services in the community.”
The foot patrols also provide new officers with an opportunity to become familiar with neighborhoods while building trust with residents and merchants.
“It is a chance for them to meet and greet and get to know the community,” Holland added. “We also want them to be aware of the quality-of-life issues that concern the community.”
Perez said the increased officer presence has proven effective in addressing lower-level offenses before they escalate.
“Larcenies, peddling are things that can be addressed with the foot and bike patrols,” he said.
The department has also expanded its use of drone technology to support officers responding to incidents. The drone can often reach a scene before patrol officers, providing real-time aerial images that help officers assess conditions before arriving.
Officials said the technology could assist with crime deterrence, auto theft investigations, emergency response and other public safety operations.
Village leaders said the combination of visible patrols, technology and community partnerships has helped improve public safety while strengthening relationships between police and residents, contributing to the village’s first-half accomplishment of recording no shootings in 2026.
Hempstead’s police department also uses a drone that can respond to the scene before the officers arrive, and give them an indication of what is happening, so they are aware of the situation.
“Larcenies, peddling are things that can be addressed with the foot and bike patrols,” Perez said.
