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State-of-the-Art Crime Analysis Center Opens in Erie County

Commissioner Denise E. O’Donnell of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and local law enforcement representatives today announced the opening of a new center in Buffalo that will revolutionize the way law enforcement fights crime in Erie County.

The Erie Crime Analysis Center, located at the Buffalo Police Department, provides law enforcement in Erie County with a centrally located unit responsible for conducting in-depth analysis of all county crime data. It builds upon partnerships established under Operation IMPACT, the state’s premier crime-fighting program upstate and on Long Island, and expands the key philosophies of that initiative – accurate use of timely crime data, use of technology to complement and enhance traditional crime-fighting strategies – to all law enforcement agencies in the county.

“Public safety remains a high priority to Governor Paterson, and even in these difficult fiscal times we will do everything we can to ensure that our communities are safe places to live, work and raise a family,” Commissioner O’Donnell said. “The Crime Analysis Center exemplifies the efficient, result-oriented approach we are taking to fight crime in every part of our state.”

Commissioner O’Donnell, a resident of Buffalo, said that through the Crime Analysis Center every law enforcement agency in Erie County will – for the first time –share crime data on a daily basis.

“With the Crime Analysis Center, law enforcement in Erie County will have daily access to millions of records which have never before been shared for analytical purposes,” Commissioner O’Donnell said. “This is key to the intelligence-driven policing model that Governor Paterson and I embrace. The Erie CAC is an enormous resource for all of our crime-fighting partners throughout Erie County.”

The Erie Crime Analysis Center is located in the Buffalo police headquarters on Franklin Street. Six agencies directly participate: the Buffalo Police Department, the Cheektowaga Police Department, the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, the Erie County Probation Department and the New York State Police. It is staffed by 10 full-time crime analysts who will analyze crime data from more than 20 different agencies in Erie County.

Commissioner O’Donnell said the Erie Crime Analysis Center will conduct a wide range of analyses, including tactical, strategic, operational and administrative. She said daily briefs will include a review of crime data for deployment decisions, and data will be used to identify crime hotspots and patterns.

“This analysis will provide an up-to-date snapshot, as well as a panoramic view, of crime throughout Erie County on a daily basis,” Commissioner O’Donnell said. “This increased level of intelligence will enable law enforcement to make informed decisions in tactical deployment and strategic planning.”

Commissioner O’Donnell also announced that James P. Giammaresi of Erie County has been retained by DCJS to serve as director of the Crime Analysis Center. Mr. Giammaresi served in the Buffalo Police Department for 22 years and retired as chief of staff.

The Erie Crime Analysis Center is one of three such facilities that will provide a more regional perspective to criminal activity. Facilities in Syracuse and Rochester are up and running and will be officially opened within the next several weeks, Commissioner O’Donnell said.

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services is a multi-function criminal justice support agency with a variety of responsibilities, including collection and analysis of statewide crime data; operation of the DNA databank and criminal fingerprint files; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and administration of the state’s Sex Offender Registry and a toll-free telephone number (1-800-262-3257) that allows anyone to research the status of an offender.