Valhalla New York State Senator Pete Harckham secured $100,000 in state grants in 2022 for the Westchester County Department of Public Safety to purchase an emergency vehicle, and yesterday inspected the new “bomb squad” truck and its auxiliary mobile robot used for explosives handling, SWAT operations and much more.
The new vehicle replaced the old Hazardous Devices Unit (HDU) truck that was more than 16 years old.
“One of my top priorities, as a Westchester legislator and in the Senate, has been to ensure that county police and emergency personnel have up-to-date equipment and adequate resources to safeguard our communities,” Harckham said.
“These turbulent times we are experiencing pose certain challenges in terms of public safety, and this new Hazard Response Vehicle will benefit both police officers and residents. “I am glad to have helped secure this important investment for the county while also easing some of the financial burden on taxpayers.”, he added.
The new vehicle has four-wheel drive, giving it additional range across the county on back roads and remote areas, while maintaining a full equipment charge. The plan is to use the new vehicle for a minimum of 10 years of service, and the vehicle will be used as a regional tool to respond to bomb threats and dangerous device calls.
The Westchester County Hazardous Device Unit (HDU) is one of 13 such units in the state. In 2022, the HDU (formerly anti-explosive unit) responded to 59 operational deployments and 219 additional security raids prior to events and dignitaries.
Westchester County Department of Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor said, “Our department is very grateful to Senator Harckham for securing this important grant. The funding allowed us to replace an old, obsolete vehicle and ensures our bomb squad officers have the resources they need to keep themselves and the public safe. Our unit not only supports all Westchester municipal police departments but is also a regional resource. “HDU also assists law enforcement in Putnam and Dutchess counties when circumstances require the response of a highly trained bomb squad.”
Harckham has provided more than $2 million in state grants to first responders and emergency personnel for critical investments in vehicles and equipment in SD40 municipalities and nonprofit organizations over the past four years.
Pete Harckham represents Senate District 40, which includes the cities of Carmel, Kent, Patterson and Southeast, and the village of Brewster in Putnam County; the city of Stony Point in Rockland County; and the town of Peekskill, the towns of Bedford, Cortlandt, Lewisboro, New Castle, North Salem, Somers and Yorktown, the hamlet/town of Mount Kisco and Ossining, and the hamlets of Briarcliff Manor, Buchanan and Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester County.
Publicado el 26 de Enero 2024
