Thursday, October 1, 2026
Suffolk County law enforcement agencies are set to receive more than $1.3 million in state funding aimed at curbing gun violence, part of a broader $36 million investment Gov. Kathy Hochul announced two weeks ago under New York’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative.
I joined the governor as she made the announcement during a visit to the Suffolk County Police Academy in Brentwood. In her remarks, Hochul praised the efforts of local law enforcement and highlighted the initiative’s role in reducing violent crime across the state. GIVE, launched in 2014, supports coordinated efforts among police departments, district attorneys, probation offices and sheriffs’ departments in high-crime areas outside New York City.
When it comes to protecting our streets from gun violence, we must “give” law enforcement agencies the funding they need to succeed, Hochul said during the event.
The newly awarded funds will be allocated to four Suffolk County agencies, supporting equipment upgrades, training programs, overtime costs and staffing enhancements aimed at proactively reducing gun violence and related crimes. The funding breakdown is as follows:
This marks the third round of GIVE funding, and is part of a wider state initiative to reduce shootings and other violent offenses in communities disproportionately affected by gun crime.
These grants help make Suffolk County and other recipient communities safer, as proven by double-digit declines in shooting-related incidents with injuries and deaths. “We thank Gov. Hochul and the Division of Criminal Justice Services,” county officials said in a statement, “for prioritizing this investment to create safer neighborhoods across New York.”
According to the governor’s office, GIVE jurisdictions have seen tangible progress. From Jan. 1 through June 30 of this year, communities participating in the initiative reported 242 shooting incidents with injuries — down from 281 during the same period in 2024. The number of individuals shot also fell, from 354 to 275, while the number of gun-related deaths dropped from 58 to 49.
Officials point to the GIVE model’s emphasis on data-driven strategies, focused deterrence and multi-agency coordination as key factors in the program’s success. The model encourages agencies to use evidence-based policing, community engagement and collaboration with social-service organizations to interrupt cycles of violence and address its root causes.
Preliminary data from the Division of Criminal Justice Services also shows a broader trend of declining crime in GIVE communities. In the first quarter of 2025, the total number of crimes fell by 18 percent, violent crimes dropped by 19 percent and property crimes decreased by 18 percent compared with the same period last year. On Long Island, both Suffolk and Nassau counties reported similar double-digit reductions across all categories, including murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft.
Between 2021 and 2024, shooting incidents in GIVE jurisdictions dropped 52 percent, the governor’s office said. In 2024, Long Island recorded its lowest number of shootings in recent history, and last year, statewide shooting incidents with injuries reached their lowest levels since tracking began in 2006.
Currently, GIVE supports 28 police departments, district attorneys’ offices, probation departments and sheriffs’ offices in 21 counties, many of which have the highest rates of violent crime outside New York City. The initiative provides not only direct financial support but also training and technical assistance to help agencies implement violence-reduction strategies rooted in research and best practices.
The current funding cycle runs from July 1 through next June 30. An additional $380,000 has been set aside to meet unexpected or emerging needs identified by participating agencies during the year. This reserve funding will allow for flexibility in responding to new challenges as they arise, such as surges in violent crime or unanticipated staffing shortages.
As someone who has consistently worked to provide our members of law enforcement with the legislative tools and support they need to keep New Yorkers safe, I know funding programs like GIVE reduce gun violence and are a proven step toward fulfilling that responsibility.
Monica Martinez represents the 4th State Senate District.
