The Syracuse Police Department is using state money to boost the technology officers use to do their job.
Gov. Kathy Hochul met with law enforcement leaders in Syracuse this week to see how central New York is spending $1.3 million in state funding. So, she met Spot the robot dog. The quadruped robot has four legs, a camera instead of a head, and other technology that can communicate with its handler. The robot can do almost anything a police dog or police officer can do, according to Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile.
“We have used it on actual barricaded situations,” Cecile said. “It can open doors, it can go upstairs, it can go in, it can listen, it can hear, it can watch, and it can actually talk. And it will certainly save flesh and blood canines from going in there. And I think down the road it will actually safeguard officers, our SWAT members, and even the subject inside will come out.”
Spot is just one of the new high-tech options for police. They have also received funding for LED lighting for crime hot spots and drones.
“We can buy equipment, we can help the officers on the street with these force multipliers, which is technology,” said Cecile. “The newest thing this year is going to be this first responder drone that's going to go out to calls and help us again with surveillance, with information before the officers even arrive.”
Hochul noted that crime in Syracuse is down around 28% from last year. More specifically, violent offenses are down 18%. Hochul said the state is investing $127 million in police departments across the state to help purchase new technology.
Hochul said crime statistics, like those in Syracuse, show that the investment is delivering results.
“We're safer than we were, but not resting on our laurels,” Hochul said. “No mission accomplished here.”
