Mount Vernon accepts $240,770 DCJS grant for domestic‑violence scribe initiative

The Board unanimously approved a resolution to accept and appropriate $240,770 in grant funding from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) to support the Mount Vernon Police Department's domestic‑violence scribe initiative. Mayor Leah Patterson Howard described the program as entering year two in Mount Vernon and said Mount Vernon and Yonkers are the only two Westchester communities awarded STRIVE grants.

Under the program the city will fund a dedicated police officer to conduct lethality assessments and to assist in issuing orders of protection while the nonprofit HOPE will provide a domestic‑violence advocate to support case management. The board approved the appropriation by roll call.