Federal grants will strengthen counter terrorism efforts

BY ERIKA NORTON
GOSHEN — Towns in the Hudson Valley will get new equipment and training in counterterrorism and public safety, thanks to grants from the Federal Department of Homeland Security.
Advanced SWAT team training and additional K9 units are part of the package.
Out of the $5 million distributed statewide, Orange County received two grants: a Tactical Team Targeted grant and an Explosive Detection Canine grant.
According to Capt. Scott Hamill of the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the $100,000 grant — the maximum amount available — will be used for equipment and SWAT team training for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The pricey equipment includes rappelling gear, rescue harnesses, ropes, tubular webbing, an ATF explosive magazine used contain explosive materials and $18,000 worth of ear bone headsets.
The largest chunk of the money will be used for advanced SWAT training, which, combined with the new equipment, will expand the sheriff department’s ability to act in different types of incidents, from hostage situations to terrorist attacks, Hamill said.
“I think that especially in Orange County alone, the river having West Point, having some of the facilities that we do within the county, this equipment is definitely something that is needed,” Hamill said. “And the training is always a priority for the sheriff’s office, making sure our people are trained properly and given the proper equipment when they do deploy.”
The county also received a $50,000 Explosive Detection Canine grant, which will go to fund a K9 unit vehicle, a storage magazine allowing for safe storage of explosive material, and the dog.
A big chunk of the money will purchase the vehicle which, according to Hamill, will be consistent with the vehicles already used by the sheriff's department, and another sizable portion will go to purchasing the K-9, which he said costs thousands of dollars.
Other grants in the areaOther municipalities within the county also applied for and received their own grants, with both the City of Middletown and the Village of Goshen receiving $50,000 Explosive Detection Canine grants. The dog that will work for the Village of Goshen Police, Nik, is currently in training at the Orange County K9 Academy.
When his training is completed, he will be able to detect explosives, track lost and wanted individuals, locate crime scene evidence, search buildings, search open-areas, and apprehend criminals.
“We’re excited about this new addition for a number of reasons,” Watt said. “We host a lot of large scale community events, the Orange County Government Center will open this year, there’s a potential large theme park coming to our border, and we host senior facilities, and medical and mental health facilities posing the possibility of lost individuals.”
In a statement, U.S. Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-16) expressed his support for the grants.
“Governor Cuomo made the right call to invest here in the Hudson Valley," he said. "This critical investment will ensure our law enforcement and first responders have the tools and training they need to combat terrorism and react to dangerous situations. I look forward to continuing my work alongside the Governor to keep our communities safe from the threat of terrorism and prepared for natural disasters.”
Geri Corey also conributed reporting