Connect with us

Police/Fire/EMS

Town Of Ramapo Police Department Is Asking Parents To Talk To Their Children About “Stranger Danger”

Published

2 years ago

on

On February 13, 2025, the Ramapo Police Department received a report from a concerned parent regarding an interaction at a school bus stop in Airmont. The parent reported that a male motorist, driving a white SUV, stopped at the bus stop and offered a ride to her daughter. The student declined, and the vehicle drove away.
Ramapo officers and detectives promptly launched an investigation to identify the driver. This involved reviewing video footage, license plate reader (LPR) data, DMV records, and other investigative techniques. Detectives were able to identify the driver as a male resident of Airmont, New York.
The subject was interviewed and stated that due to the cold temperatures, he offered the student a ride to school, like he has done within his community in the past without incident. After discussing the situation with officers, he acknowledged that this could be viewed as concerning in today’s climate. Our detective strongly suggested he not offer this type of assistance under these circumstances going forward. His account of the incident concurred with the student’s statement that a white SUV approached, and the driver asked if she needed a ride to school. She said “no,” and the driver asked, “Are you sure?” She said “yes,” and he drove away.
Our detectives, collaborating with the law enforcement intelligence community, confirmed no previous reports of similar incidents involving this subject. There is no provision in New York State law that would have authorized officers to make a probable cause arrest based on the specific facts and circumstances of this case.
On Friday, Ramapo Police officers were present at the bus stop, supplemented by our DFR Unmanned Aerial System, which serves as a force multiplier for public safety. We will continue to patrol school bus stops as a routine police function.
This incident may serve as a valuable opportunity for parents and guardians to speak to their children about school bus stop safety and “stranger-danger” in general.
As of today, the RPD has conducted 1,345 self-initiated school related checks this year, reflecting an increase of approximately 2.5 percentage points compared to the same period last year. This total includes checks of school buses and school bus stops.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Police/Fire/EMS

Stony Point Police Department Construction May Limit Public Access

Published

4 weeks ago

on

August 25, 2026

By

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.

Continue Reading

Police/Fire/EMS

Ramapo Police Halt Test of Advanced License Plate Reader Cameras

Published

1 month ago

on

August 11, 2026

By

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.

Continue Reading

Trending