McCarthy Presents COPS Technology Grant to Suozzi, Nassau Police

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy presented Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Nassau County Police Commissioner William Willett a $630,818 check to use for law enforcement technology upgrades. The grant will fund up to 75 percent of the total cost of crime fighting technologies such as mobile and personal computers, dispatch systems, crime analysis hardware and software, automated booking, video arraignment systems and automated fingerprint identification systems.

"Our law enforcement officers will be able to keep our communities safer by using state-of-the-art technology," McCarthy said. "For example, this money can be used for in-car computers to help officers analyze crime problems while on patrol. The benefit of high technology in the fight against crime is tremendous. Updated technology for our officers means more lives can be saved. This is money well spent."

The grants were awarded under the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Making Officer Redeployment Effective (MORE) program. Law enforcement agencies consistently cite technology as one of their most critical needs. In this modern era of policing, the use of technological advances means officers have more time to spend on patrol in the communities they serve. These grants will fill the resource need law enforcement officers face each day.

"Our police are among the most efficiently run departments in the county and this grant will help them improve an already outstanding operation," Suozzi said. "The grant will improve the safety of our community, which is most the important thing, and the safety of our officers."

The North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health System recently welcomed Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, heart transplant recipient Steven Taibbi and "donor mom" Claudia Grammatico of Valley Stream to its first Gift of Life celebration in recognition of National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week. The event was held at the hospital in Manhasset April 26.

In her keynote address, McCarthy expressed her personal sentiments about giving the gift of life and advocated for increased awareness about the severe shortage of available organs and tissues in this country. More than 78,000 men, women and children are currently awaiting life-saving transplants and almost 5,000 people die every year because of a shortage of donors.

McCarthy explained that shortly after the 1993 Long Island Rail Road shooting massacre, which killed her husband and critically injured her son, he was taken to North Shore University Hospital. Staff there told her that he had only a 5 to 10 percent chance of surviving. At that moment, McCarthy said she decided that she would donate his organs if he did not live. Fortunately, he did.

With only 857 organs donated in New York State last year, McCarthy said it is imperative to "educate, educate, educate" about the critical need for more donors. Those interested in becoming a donor can sign the back of their driver's license and register with the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. Further information about the registry can be obtained by calling 1-877-752-3175 or at www.health.state.ny.us.