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Rockland County Mourns the Loss of Hero Firefighter Fredrick Simms Jr.

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In Loving Memory of FDNY Captain and Tappan Fire Department Ex-Chief Fredrick Simms Jr.

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of FDNY Captain and Tappan Fire Department Ex-Chief Fredrick Simms Jr., who courageously fought a long battle with 9/11-related cancer.

Freddie was the embodiment of dedication to the fire service. He joined the Tappan Fire Department in March 1998, rising through the ranks from Assistant Engineer to Chief of Department, serving honorably from 2014 to 2016.

On July 15, 2001, Freddie began his career with the FDNY at Ladder Company 58 in the Bronx. He was later promoted to Lieutenant at Ladder Company 40 in Harlem and eventually returned to his roots as Captain of 58 Truck.

His commitment extended beyond the firehouse. Freddie was a New York State Fire Instructor at the Rockland County Fire Training Center, a member of the Orangetown Fire Chiefs Council, and since 2016, served as Rockland County Deputy Fire Coordinator, proudly holding the designation 44-3.

Fredrick Simms Jr. left an indelible mark on Rockland County, making it a better and safer place through his service, leadership, and unwavering courage.

Please keep the Simms family, his FDNY brothers and sisters, and the members of the Tappan Fire Department in your thoughts and prayers during this incredibly difficult time.

Police/Fire/EMS

Ramapo Police Halt Test of Advanced License Plate Reader Cameras

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Ramapo Police Chief Daniel Hyman announced that the department will not move forward with a planned test of a new generation of automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras, citing privacy concerns and the need to balance law enforcement technology with constitutional protections.

Hyman said the technology being considered goes beyond the department’s existing fixed license plate readers. While current cameras primarily capture license plates to help identify wanted or stolen vehicles and assist with criminal investigations, the newer systems include advanced investigative analytics and vehicle-identification capabilities.

“Those capabilities can provide tremendous value to law enforcement, but they also raise legitimate questions about privacy and the appropriate limits of government technology,” Hyman said.

Hyman emphasized that the decision does not affect the traditional fixed LPR cameras currently used by the Ramapo Police Department and does not represent a rejection of license plate reader technology overall.

Instead, he said the department is exercising caution because of the expanded capabilities of the newer systems.

“Our responsibility is to protect both” public safety and constitutional protections, Hyman said.

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Police/Fire/EMS

Two Hospitalized After Crash on Kings Highway in Valley Cottage

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Emergency crews responded to a motor vehicle collision Sunday morning on Kings Highway, where two people were transported to the hospital.

Medic 5, RPS 8, Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance and the Valley Cottage Fire Department responded to the scene.

Two patients were transported to Montefiore Nyack Hospital in stable condition.

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