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Ramapo Police Respond to Inaccurate WPDH Report About Hudson Valley Police Activity

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RAMAPO, NY — The Ramapo Police Department is addressing what officials say was inaccurate reporting in a recent social media post by 101.5 WPDH regarding police activity on a Hudson Valley street.

According to Ramapo Police, the WPDH headline described the situation as “chaos” and suggested there had been an “oopsie” or a “mistake by police.” Officials say those descriptions do not reflect what actually occurred.

Police said officers responded to the location after being notified by a county agency conducting an inspection that had identified suspicious-looking fluids. Because officers are not chemical experts, the Rockland County Hazardous Materials Team was requested to respond and evaluate the substance in accordance with standard public safety protocols.

Authorities said the response was precautionary and followed established procedures used when an unknown substance is encountered.

“There was no chaos, no mistake by police, and no misunderstanding,” officials said in a statement. “The response was calm, controlled, and precautionary.”

Police also noted that weather conditions at the time included periods of heavy rainfall, which resulted in minimal pedestrian activity in the area.

Officials emphasized that calling in trained hazardous materials specialists is the appropriate response when officers encounter a potential chemical hazard.

The department added that while officers are committed to protecting public safety, accurate reporting is important when describing emergency responses.

“Public safety deserves accuracy, not sensationalism,” the department said.

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Police/Fire/EMS

Stony Point Police Department Construction May Limit Public Access

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Construction is underway at the Stony Point Police Department, where improvements to the station’s entrance and surrounding walkways are expected to temporarily affect public access.

The project includes replacing the department’s front steps and entrance area, along with sections of the surrounding sidewalks. During construction, access to the station lobby and police desk may be limited or difficult.

Residents who need police services or assistance are encouraged to call the Stony Point Police Department at 845-786-2422. An officer will assist callers and provide further direction.

Anyone experiencing an emergency should continue to call 911.

Police officials thanked residents for their patience and cooperation as the construction work is completed.

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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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