Special village board meeting held for OPD LETECH grant

By JoAnn R. Walter

Writer

OWEGO — A special meeting of the Village of Owego Board was held on Aug. 24 to further discuss an application that the Owego Police Department wishes to pursue for the NYS LETECH Grant.

The subject was a key topic at the board’s Aug. 17 meeting and had brought out a number of concerned residents, and especially in regard to the type of cameras being considered for purchase.

The Law Enforcement Technology (LETECH) Grant, and a $75 million fund via the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services, awards funds via agency size. Eligible applicants are village, town and city police departments, as well as county sheriffs’ offices outside of NYC.

The LETECH Grant that the OPD wishes to apply for is $125,000, and includes three categories; $40,000 for five car computers, $30,000 for a Skydio X10 drone, and $55,000 for Motorola fixed LPR’s, a total of four cameras at two locations. The grant application deadline is Sept. 2.

Attending the special meeting was Owego Police Chief, Joe Kennedy, and two OPD officers.

At the previous week’s meeting it was noted that new car computers are an unavoidable cost since technical support for the OPD’s current computers ends in October, and the processors are too old to support Windows 11. Regarding thermal drones, Chief Kennedy said that they would prove helpful in specific cases such as burglaries, or individuals running into wooded areas, among other examples, and noted that OPD has had to call the county several times for use of their drone.

When discussing the cameras, or fixed LPR’s, Kennedy said, “We’re not looking to invade anyone’s privacy. There are safeguards, and there are checks and balances built into the system.”

Kennedy acknowledged that there are cases all over the country where information related to cameras has been abused. “We are very transparent here,” he said. “These cameras aren’t facial recognition cameras. When a plate goes by, they snap a quick picture of the license plate and the vehicle. They are not cameras that are going to follow you through the village.”

Several questions were posed by Board members, including where would cameras be placed, and that approval from the State may be needed. Chief Kennedy suggested fixed cameras would, “Probably put one on 96, and one near the bridge.”

Chief Kennedy also said that an LPR on a car might not be at the right spot at the right time to solve a crime, and that fixed or pole-mounted cameras have a better chance of identifying a vehicle they’re looking for exiting the village on one side or the other.

Mayor Baratta said, “People are coming through Tioga County because there are no cameras.”

Following several more questions, the Board voted to approve the application 6-1. One board member indicated that they are not truly in favor of LPR’s on a stationary basis, but wanted the application to be started for the other two items. Another board member inquired if the application could be modified later regarding the kind of camera, either pole-mounted or car, and that is under consideration.

Public comment was granted after the vote. One village resident stated that they are adamantly opposed to the cameras, and others cited that cameras on poles are an infringement on individual’s rights, with additional concerns cited about data storage and data sharing. Other village residents spoke in favor of cameras since police are not available 24/7, and that the OPD needs them to protect the community. For more information, the Aug. 24, 2026 Village of Owego Board Meeting can be viewed on YouTube.