Westchester Insider: Westchester County: For Immediate Release: Westchester County Launches Threat Assessment Center to Prevent Targeted Violence.

 

WESTCHESTER COUNTY LAUNCHES MULTI-DISCIPLINARY THREAT ASSESSMENT CENTER.

Law Enforcement, mental health experts, educators and others to work collaboratively with the public to prevent targeted violence.

 

(White Plains, NY) -- Westchester County has launched a new threat assessment center to prevent targeted violence and provide the public with a direct way to report persons or groups they fear may be planning acts of mass violence or domestic terrorism.

 

The Westchester County Threat Assessment Center (WESTAC) utilizes multi-disciplinary teams consisting of law enforcement, mental health professionals, social workers, school officials and other community stakeholders. The center will receive, assess and manage threats or potential threats of targeted violence and attempt to prevent it from occurring.

 

County Executive George Latimer announced the initiative during his recent State of the County address.

 

Latimer said, “In many incidents involving mass shootings or other targeted violence, there were warning signs that went unreported. These include erratic behavior, threatening comments, alarming social media posts or growing hostility toward persons of a different racial or ethnic group. WESTAC’s mission is to identify or assess these potential threats and intervene before any violence occurs.”

 

Latimer said the public may share information with the Threat Assessment Center anonymously through an encrypted portal or confidentially by phone or email.

 

The online secure, encrypted portal can be accessed at: https://publicsafety.westchestergov.com/report-threat 

By email: westac@westchestercountyny.gov

By phone: 914-864-7834