Ryan announces funding for public safety in Tonawanda

Senator secures nearly $300,000 in state grants to support Tonawanda Police, crime prevention

New York State Sen. Sean Ryan has secured nearly $300,000 in state funding to support police operations and crime prevention in the Town of Tonawanda and throughout Western New York. The funding includes two state grants for the Town of Tonawanda Police Department and one for Crime Stoppers WNY.

The Town of Tonawanda PD will receive a $50,000 budget grant, as well as a $236,000 capital grant to pay for a renovation of the department’s locker rooms. The budget grant will fund day-to-day operations. The capital grant will cover costs for updating the department’s facilities to improve readiness, including the town’s SWAT lockers.

The remainder of the funding comes in the form of a $10,000 allocation to Crime Stoppers WNY. This grant was secured from a pool of state funding that can be used for community safety and restorative justice programs. Crime Stoppers WNY will utilize the funding to support efforts to assist local police departments with apprehending wanted criminals and solving high-priority crimes.

Ryan said, “Keeping our communities safe is a key priority of mine, and supporting our local police departments, like the Town of Tonawanda Police Department, is the No. 1 factor in ensuring our neighborhoods across Western New York are protected. At the same time, eradicating crime in our community requires a multifaceted approach. This funding for Crime Stoppers will help them continue their important work helping local law enforcement resolve unsolved crimes.”

Town of Tonawanda Police Chief James P. Stauffiger said, “We are grateful to Sen. Ryan for securing this important funding, which will assist our department in further safeguarding the community. The upgrades to our facilities will help to improve the morale among the brave men and women in the police department who selflessly serve the town, and will allow them to be even better prepared to respond when called on.”

Vice Chairman Paul Catalano said, “Crime Stoppers is committed to solving crimes in Western New York. We have created a program to increase our rewards for all crimes in which guns are used, and these funds will have an immediate impact in solving these crimes.”

Crime Stoppers WNY is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) public service organization that assists all law enforcement agencies throughout the eight Western New York counties. Crime Stoppers was created in the Buffalo area in 1990. The organization assists law enforcement agencies in their efforts to apprehend wanted individuals, and getting tips on older unsolved crimes. Crime Stoppers Buffalo regularly pays out rewards for information leading to arrests. Citizens are encouraged to come forward anonymously with information regarding the wanted persons.