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Officials announced the launch of the Westchester County Threat Assessment Center on Thursday, March 21.
The center will utilize a multi-disciplinary team of law enforcement, mental health professionals, social workers, school officials, and other community stakeholders, and will receive, assess, and manage potential threats of targeted violence in an attempt to stop it from happening, officials said.
"In many incidents involving mass shootings or other targeted violence, there were warning signs that went unreported," County Executive George Latimer explained, adding, "These include erratic behavior, threatening comments, alarming social media posts or growing hostility toward persons of a different racial or ethnic group. WESTAC’s mission is to identify or assess these potential threats and intervene before any violence occurs.”
Residents can anonymously share information with the Threat Assessment Center through:
- An encrypted portal that can be accessed by clicking here;
- By email at westac@westchestercountyny.gov;
- By calling 914-864-7834.
The center's creation follows an executive order issued by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul after a 2022 mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket. The order requires every county in the state to develop a threat assessment and management team, county officials said.
Westchester received $175,000 in state funding for this purpose.
According to Acting Westchester Public Safety Commissioner Terrance Raynor, people who have committed past acts of violence have exhibited the following warning signs:
- An increased level of anger or physical aggression toward other people;
- Verbal threats of violence or threats posted on social media;
- An increase in interest in weapons or explosives;
- Mental health issues such as paranoia or hearing voices.
Anyone who sees these behaviors in others is asked to contact the assessment center.
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