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Molinaro joined Dutchess County District Attorney William Grady, Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian “Butch” Anderson, as well as local leaders and law enforcement agencies, to announce $563,821 will be used to expand the task force.
The funding will ensure continued law enforcement participation throughout Dutchess County and enable the expansion of task force opioid enforcement activities.
“The Dutchess County Drug Task Force has been instrumental in uncovering and preventing drug crimes countywide," Molinaro said. "Our Municipal Innovation Grant Program will provide consistent funding for local municipalities and police agencies to devote resources for ongoing participation in the Task Force."
The Municipal Innovation Grant Program funding provides the task force with consistent funding, alleviating the financial burden of the four participating police departments, including the City and Town of Poughkeepsie, Town of East Fishkill and City of Beacon.
The Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department will be assigning a dedicated police officer to the task force, giving greater flexibility in providing for drug and gun targeting and investigation activities.
The additional officer will increase the force's membership from seven to eight full-time police officers.
“The Dutchess County Drug Task Force is vital in our anti-drug trafficking efforts, but the Task Force has been challenged because of the lack of consistent funding available for local municipalities to participate in Drug Task Force activities," Grady said. "This grant funding will ensure we have the necessary resources to devote to this intensive, investigative work.”
The task force efforts are led by the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office with drug investigations being conducted countywide.
In 2016, the force handled a total of 135 cases, investigated 273 tips, completed 265 buys, 32 search warrants, 15 search warrant raids and seized 12 vehicles.
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