Two East End police departments collectively received over $1 million in federal funding secured by U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Rocky Point) for technological upgrades and new vehicles.
The Southampton Town Police Department will receive $782,100 to upgrade technology within its mobile command van to expand the department’s monitoring capabilities and communications during emergencies. The Village of Sag Harbor Police Department will get $206,751 to support vehicle enhancements to give Officers reliable vehicles to carry out their duties.
LaLota secured the funding for these municipalities through the Fiscal Year 2026 Community Project Funding Appropriations process, a discretionary process that allows members of Congress to direct federal funding toward critical local projects.
“Delivering nearly $1 million in federal funding to the Southampton and Sag Harbor Police Departments strengthens public safety while sparing local taxpayers the expense,” LaLota said.
“Many people mistake these beautiful, bucolic communities on the east end as a place for the rich and famous, but those aren’t the people who typically live here,” said State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk). “The people who do certainly need this kind of support,”
“Today’s a major victory for our taxpayers,” said Southampton Town Supervisor Maria Moore. “These federal dollars directly lower the burden on local property owners. Instead of funding these vital upgrades through town taxes, we’re utilizing federal money to protect our community.”
The Southampton Police Department’s command van is 25 years old, but it is still in good running condition, said the town’s police chief, James Kiernan. “There is no reason to get rid of something that is old but working fine,” he said. “So, what we plan to do is refurbish it and get equipment where we can serve the community better.”
“These federal funds are important to us. They help bridge the gap so the taxpayers are not overburdened,” said Village of Sag Harbor Mayor Thomas Gardella.
“Maintaining a safe and reliable fleet is also one of the larger recurring expenses faced by a small municipal police department,” said Sag Harbor Village Polic CHief Robet Drake. “This funding will allow us to replace aging vehicles with modern, reliable police vehicles while significantly reducing the financial burden that would otherwise fall directly on the taxpayers of the Village of Sag Harbor. And while Sag Harbor may be a small community, demands placed on our department are anything but small.”