NEW YORK, NY — Halloween pranks can have deadly consequences, but New York State Police are celebrating a half-century of keeping mischief in check with a unique initiative.
New York State Police will coordinate the 50th Annual Pumpkin Patrol on Oct. 30 and 31 along New York State Thruway bridges and overpasses. The Halloween safety effort aimed at deterring dangerous pranks and protecting drivers.
The long-running initiative is a partnership between State Police Troop T, whose members patrol the Thruway exclusively, and volunteers from local amateur radio organizations. The volunteers will monitor bridges and overpasses for suspicious or unsafe activity, including the throwing of objects onto the Thruway, and can quickly alert nearby State Police patrols or local law enforcement.
Several hundred people across 16 counties are expected to take part this year, according to State Police. The agency also thanked the New York State Thruway Authority for its partnership in the initiative and acknowledged the support of participating volunteer groups.
State Police reported that Pumpkin Patrol began as a volunteer effort in 1976 in Fort Johnson, Montgomery County. The agency assumed coordination of the program in 1990 as part of broader crime prevention efforts.
The participating volunteer organizations include Orange County Amateur Radio Emergency Service/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, Greene County Amateur Radio Club, Troy Amateur Radio Association, Schenectady Museum Radio Association, Montgomery Radio Association, Fort Herkimer Amateur Radio Association, Madison-Oneida Amateur Radio Club, Liverpool Amateur Repeater Club, Drumlins Amateur Radio Club, Skenoh Island Amateur Radio Club, Monroe County Amateur Radio Emergency Service/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, Genesee County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, Erie County Amateur Radio Emergency Service/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, and Chautauqua County Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service.
The patrol will take place alongside other State Police enforcement activity during Halloween weekend. According to State Police, that includes increased patrols targeting impaired driving and underage drinking.
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