Regional Crime Lab Opens to Serve Putnam, Rockland

The $10 million New York State Police Mid-Hudson Regional Crime Lab at Stewart International Airport is now open, providing testing services to law enforcement throughout the Hudson Valley.

“Having access to a regional crime lab is a great benefit for police departments across the Hudson Valley that will save them both time and resources,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a prepared statement. “Opening this facility is one more step towards a safer and a more secure New York.”

The state-of-the-art lab is housed inside a new 10,000 square foot, single story building. Its construction was funded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in exchange for continued law enforcement services at Stewart Airport by the New York State Police, which has been safeguarding operations at the airfield since the 1970s.

The lab will examine evidence and analyze samples in DWI cases and controlled substances seized in drug cases within Dutchess, Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Rockland counties. The facility will also analyze samples from State Police cases that originate from Westchester County and parts of Long Island and New York City.

“The State Police is appreciative of our continued partnership with the Port Authority and Stewart Airport,” New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico said. “This new crime lab was carefully designed from the ground up to meet our current and future needs for processing evidence. The result will be improved efficiency and better service for law enforcement agencies throughout the region.”

Currently, Stewart Airport employs approximately 2,700 people, contributes about $450 million in economic activity to the region and generates more than $160 million in annual wages and salaries. Additionally, more than half the capital projects initiated by the Port Authority at Stewart have been awarded to local firms and contractors, including the construction of the crime lab that also preserves local civilian jobs at the lab and provides job opportunities for local contractors.