Congresswoman Laura Gillen announced on Mar. 11 that she has secured $1,031,000 in new federal law enforcement funding for the Village of Rockville Centre. The funds, obtained through the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process, will be used to install high-grade police security cameras throughout the village.
The initiative aims to help prevent and solve crimes by providing law enforcement with additional tools to monitor public spaces and gather evidence when incidents occur. According to Gillen, “In partnership with local leaders, I am proud to have secured more than $1 million in new federal funding for high-grade police security cameras throughout Rockville Centre. Our law enforcement know that crimes in one community don’t stop along the lines of another. And when incidents do occur, whether it’s a theft, a break-in, or an accident, they will now have the footage and means to get answers. These police officers work day in and day out, serving the families who call Rockville Centre home, including my own. They deserve to have every tool available to help keep our communities safe.”
Village of Rockville Centre Mayor Francis Murray thanked Gillen for her efforts at a press conference announcing the funding. “It’s a very exciting day for law enforcement in the Village of Rockville Centre, and that is due to our Congresswoman, Laura Gillen,” Murray said. “We’re so grateful for her to help us out with policing, and we’re so grateful that she is here with us today.”
Randy Dodd, Commissioner of the Rockville Centre Police Department, also spoke about the impact of increased surveillance technology on crime prevention: “Visibility is one of the strongest preventions in crime. Cameras change behavior. They discourage criminal activity before it begins. When criminals know they’re being watched, crime goes down,” Dodd said. “On behalf of the Rockville Centre Police Department and the residents we serve, I want to thank the congresswoman, the mayor, the deputy mayor and the Village Board of Trustees for always standing with law enforcement and public safety.”
Last year Mayor Murray requested this funding from Gillen who then worked to ensure its passage through the House Appropriations Committee as part of nearly $13 million secured for community projects across New York’s Fourth Congressional District.
Gillen has been active on issues related to law enforcement since taking office as a member of the Law Enforcement Caucus and cosponsoring several bills aimed at supporting public safety officers.
