WNY News Now

(WNY News Now) – Governor Kathy Hochul today announced her nomination of Steven G. James to serve as the Superintendent of the New York State Police. Acting Superintendent James will lead the New York State Police in an acting role as he awaits confirmation by the Senate.

“The men and women of the New York State Police do heroic work to keep New Yorkers safe, and Steven G. James will be a Superintendent who will lead this force into the next generation” Governor Hochul said. “Since taking office, I’ve prioritized fighting crime and investing in law enforcement, and I’m looking forward to working closely with Acting Superintendent James to keep the people of New York safe.”

Acting Superintendent Steven G. James said, “This opportunity comes around once in a lifetime, if you’re lucky. Governor Hochul’s nomination is my crowning achievement and I know just how fortunate I am to have been provided this chance to serve. I look forward to bringing the State Police further into the arena of cutting-edge policing and to serving as a model agency.”

Acting Superintendent James has served with the New York State Police for more than 32 years, including more than two decades in a leadership role. Most recently, he served as Deputy Superintendent for Employee Relations and has also served as Assistant Deputy Superintendent, Staff Inspector, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Senior Investigator, Sergeant, Investigator and Trooper. He holds a B.S. in Psychology from SUNY Albany and a master’s in public administration from Marist College.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has expanded the role of the New York State Police and made significant investments in public safety. Over the past two years, these efforts have included:

• The creation of a new gun interdiction unit and the launching of the innovative multi-state and intra-State gun trafficking task forces.
• Expanding the State’s role in combatting cyber-crimes by expanding our social media unit.
• $7.4 million to allow State Police to keep pace with technology in criminal investigations, including digital forensic services and investigating cybercrimes; providing critical support to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit to ensure that crimes against children are fully investigated.
• $25.9 million for the creation and expansion of the State Police Community Stabilization Units (CSUs) to support local law enforcement.
• In November, Governor Hochul added five additional people assigned to social media and 10 new people assigned to JTTF Office of Counterterror to address the rise in hate crimes.
• $100 million to purchase and renovate a new satellite crime laboratory for the State Police. This new facility will eliminate overcrowding at the Forensic Investigation Center and provide space for anti-gun violence initiatives. The State Police currently has three satellite crime laboratories in the Albany area.
• $66.7 million to increase the number of State Police academy classes, making up for academy classes that were postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as increasing the number of troopers dedicated to addressing serious crime. 

This year’s FY25 Executive Budget continues these efforts and includes two initiatives for the State Police to combat retail theft:  

• Led by the State Police, launching the Retail Theft Joint Operation to coordinate through our network of Crime Analysis Centers the response of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, modeled on the successful intra-state task force on gun trafficking, but focused on combatting organized retail theft crime;
• Deploying a dedicated State Police team to build cases against organized retail theft rings;
• Setting up a New York State Police Smash and Grab Enforcement Unit.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Governor Hochul has made it clear her top priority is to keep New Yorkers safe and she has demonstrated that yet again with the nomination of the next State Police Superintendent. With New York’s threat landscape evolving every year, our partnership with the State Police has never been more critical. I thank Governor Hochul for selecting a proven leader like Acting Superintendent James and look forward to partnering with him as we work to protect communities statewide.”

New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Acting Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III said, “New York State DOCCS has a long and productive history of working with the State Police. We congratulate and look forward to this ongoing collaboration under Acting Superintendent James’ leadership, to ensure the safety of our communities. I also want to thank Governor Hochul for her continued focus on the agencies charged with protecting the state’s public safety.”

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “For more than fifty years, DCJS has been a steadfast partner to the New York State Police and our local police agencies. We look forward to working with Acting Superintendent James as he continues the Troopers’ legacy of excellence and professionalism in protecting New Yorkers throughout our great state. We thank Governor Hochul for her unparalleled leadership on public safety and criminal justice, and her steadfast support of our agencies.”

New York State Police Investigators Association President Tim Dymond said, “On behalf of the New York State Police Investigators Association, I commend Governor Hochul’s appointment of Col. Steven James as Superintendent of the New York State Police. As a Trooper who served for more than 30 years, his reputation is exemplary, and our members will be proud to serve under his leadership. We look forward to working with Superintendent James to continue strengthening, unifying, and supporting the BCI, and our collective efforts to keep New Yorkers safe.”

New York State Guardians Association President Marcus A. Walthour said, “Steven James is a proven law enforcement official that has come up through the ranks of the New York State Police. His dedicated service to the people of the State of New York has been exemplary. He is a consummate professional whose wisdom and strong leadership is exactly what this agency needs at this moment in time. The Guardians Association wholeheartedly agrees with Governor Hochul’s selection of Steven James as the next Superintendent of the State Police.”