On September 30, 2026, the counties of Ulster and Clinton received over $1 million in federal grants as part of the Byrne Discretionary Community Project Grants designed to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system announced First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, and Clinton County Sheriff David Favro.
The Byrne Discretionary Grants Program provides funding for specific community projects designated for funding in the Department of Justice Appropriations Acts. Byrne Discretionary aims to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and assist victims of crime. Clinton County will be utilizing the $500,000 granted to them to purchase a properly equipped and mission specific vessel to respond to emergencies and patrol the international border of New York and Vermont with Canada on Lake Champlain.
Ulster County received $794,000 for the Sheriff’s policing equipment and technology upgrades project. The money will modernize emergency communications, investigations, corrections, crisis response and field operations across the predominantly rural county. The Sheriff’s Office can now procure and implement next-generation 911 and phone system capabilities, secure a crisis intervention and overdose data platform, mobile device forensic technology, a handheld Raman-based drug identification device, camera and automated license please reader infrastructure, and AI-supported report drafting. This will result in safer drug identification, stronger crisis follow up, better correctional awareness and more coordinated countywide public safety operations.
First Assistant United States Attorney Sarcone stated, “We are proud to announce the federal grants awarded to Ulster County and Clinton County. While these counties are on the exact opposite sides of the Northern District of New York, working with state and local law enforcement is essential to keeping our entire district safe. Having Lake Champlain adequately patrolled is essential to protecting the Canadian border, which is considered the most serious threat to national security of any border today in the United States of America. Ulster County sits in the heart of the Hudson Valley with a significant portion covering Interstate-87, a known drug trafficking route. My office is proud to collaborate with Sheriff Figueroa to keep all residents of the Hudson Valley safe.”
Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa stated, “The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office is thankful to our partners in federal law enforcement for this funding. Teamwork is essential in achieving the Byrne Discretionary Grants goal of improving the criminal justice system. I look forward to future collaborations with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York. The historical prosecutions between the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (U.R.G.E.N.T.) and the federal government have made Ulster County a safer place, and the new funding will ensure the safety for my community going forward.”
Clinton County Sheriff David Favro stated, “Keeping the beautiful waters of Lake Champlain safe for our residents and guests is a critical mission of the Sheriff’s office. Receiving this grant for $500,000.00 will allow the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office to purchase an appropriately equipped marine vessel to respond to a variety of emergencies on Lake Champlain in addition to patrolling the international open waters that border Canada and Vermont.”
Source: U.S. Attorney’s Office — Northern District of New York — U.S. Department of Justice press release.