FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Albany County Receives Homeland Security Grant Funds

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy today announced that the county has received $597,448 in grant funding as awarded by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYSDHSES) as part of the 2013 State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP). The funding will be directed to law enforcement terrorism prevention activities by providing funding to the Albany County Sheriffs Office and county Department of Health. Funding for the initiative will be provided by NYSDHSES. The Sheriffs Office will continue to build upon and sustain Interoperable Communications Systems. Communications is a critical issue in all major incidents and the grant funding will ensure public safety agencies and other community partners can communicate with one another on demand, in real time, when needed, and when authorized. The Health Department will be provided funding as part of the State Homeland Security Program will enable the county to further enhance public health preparedness, training, citizen recruitment, and emergency medical response capabilities. Since taking office my priority has been to ensure that our law enforcement and health officials develop capabilities needed to protect the public. I am pleased that we are getting the resources we need, County Executive McCoy said. It is crucial that we work together to ensure that the county remain up to date and provide state of the art security programs on all levels. We do not know when or if a situation will occur in our area, but with this funding in place, we can be prepared and that is crucial, said McCoy. I would like to thank the Governors Office and the Division of Homeland Security for providing the funding to sustain our initiatives to provide a high level of public safety in Albany County, said Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple Sr. These funds will go towards our interoperability project to assure clear communications for all public service agencies. ###
Mary Rozak Director of Communications Office of the Albany County Executive 112 State Street, Room 825

Albany, NY 12207 tel 518.447.7040 ext. 7218 fax 518.447.5589 mary.rozak@albanycounty.com www.albanycounty.com