Carnright and Byrne at Kingston news conference

KINGSTON/POUGHKEEPSIE - Law enforcement agencies in Ulster and Dutchess counties say there job is made a bit easier by the annual Operation Impact funding. The money this year is a bit less than last year, because of the state’s fiscal distress, but as Acting Criminal Justice Commissioner Sean Byrne told officials, during separate sessions in both counties, Gov. David Paterson is determined to not jeopardize public safety.

Dutchess will receive about $377,000 and Ulster gets about $275,000. In both counties some of the money will flow to what are considered the central local policing jurisdictions – Poughkeepsie, in Dutchess, and Kingston, in Ulster
“It is the single most important assistance that we receive from Albany”, said Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright. “If our communities are not safe, people won’t stay here."

In Poughkeepsie, Mayor John Tlkazyik said Operation Impact money is always put into the budget as ‘new money’, enabling the city to provide more services. Police Chief Ronald Knapp said because of the funding, and initiatives, they have been able to enhance their law enforcement.

“I know that when we do have crimes and we need to focus resources, we can do that”, said Knapp. I’d hate to think of what it would be like if Impact wasn’t there.”

Byrne also highlighted several initiatives, including ones targeting domestic violence, which he said is a seedbed for higher levels of social violence, including aggravated assault, a crime he compared to “murder, in which the victim gets lucky."

Byrne also said there is a concerted effort to get DNA samples from anyone convicted of any crime in any court at any level in New York State.