COUNTY POLICE STATEMENT ON ACTIVE SHOOTER INCIDENTS

In light of the tragic shootings in El Paso and Dayton, County Executive George Latimer has directed the Department of Public Safety to increase communication with local police departments in Westchester and provide any needed support they request. In response, intelligence bulletins from the New York State Intelligence Center and the County Police were shared earlier today with local law enforcement through the Real Time Crime Center.  RTC will continue to monitor developments throughout the day and share that information with local law enforcement as needed.

Although there is no indication of any threats in this region, Westchester County Police are also assessing the need for increased patrols in Mount Kisco and Cortlandt, the two communities where the County Police provide municipal police service.

In continuation of the Department’s efforts to keep Westchester residents safe, the County Police in recent months have provided active shooter training for civilians and law enforcement. The Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training has been provided to hundreds of county employees and citizens. Additional sessions are anticipated. CRASE provides practical guidance to increase the odds of surviving an active shooter event in the workplace or at public venues.

The County Police will continue to work closely with Counter-Terrorism Zone 3, the Westchester County Chiefs of Police Association and all its law enforcement partners on training and exercises regarding active shooter events. It also continues to provide training and guidance to the Westchester Security Directors Association, among other groups. The Department will also be exploring adding private sector partners to the mutual aid drills that are held quarterly to ensure a rapid and coordinated response to any large-scale incident that might occur in the County.