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Bear and Cub Spotted in New City Area, Clarkstown Police Urge Caution

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New City, N.Y. — Clarkstown Police Dispatchers have received multiple reports of a bear and cub roaming near Squadron Boulevard in New City. The most recent sighting was reported near Route 304, according to police.

Officials are reminding residents that black bears are a natural part of New York’s wildlife and generally avoid human contact. However, homeowners are encouraged to take precautions to minimize the chance of attracting bears to their property.

According to guidance from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), residents should:
► Keep garage doors and ground-floor windows closed at night.
► Store garbage, pet food, and bird seed inside a shed, garage, or home — and remove outdoor bird feeders.
► If you use an invisible fence for pets, keep them on a leash in areas where bears have been seen.

Officials emphasize that black bears are not typically aggressive toward humans and should not be feared. The key, they say, is to remain calm, give the animals plenty of space, and avoid approaching or feeding them.

(Photo is a stock image — not of the bear spotted in New City.)

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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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