New York State Police Mobilize 50th Pumpkin Patrol for Thruway Safety

Several hundred amateur radio volunteers are set to participate in the 50th Annual Pumpkin Patrol, a coordinated effort by New York State Police to monitor the New York State Thruway over Halloween weekend.

The operation runs from October 30 to October 31 and focuses on bridges and overpasses where drivers have historically faced danger from objects thrown by pedestrians. Troop T, which provides exclusive patrol coverage for the Thruway, manages the program in partnership with local radio groups. The primary objective is to detect suspicious activity quickly and relay information to nearby State Police or local law enforcement units.

State Police noted that the initiative began as a volunteer effort in 1976 at Fort Johnson in Montgomery County. The agency took over coordination in 1990 to integrate the program into its wider crime prevention strategies. This year's event marks the 50th iteration of that specific State Police-led operation.

The New York State Thruway Authority is a partner in the effort, providing logistical support. Participating organizations include the Orange County Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the Greene County Amateur Radio Club, the Troy Amateur Radio Association, and the Schenectady Museum Radio Association. Other groups involved are the Montgomery Radio Association, the Fort Herkimer Amateur Radio Association, and the Madison-Oneida Amateur Radio Club.

Additional volunteer groups from the Liverpool, Drumlins, and Skenoh Island areas are also engaged. The Monroe, Genesee, Erie, and Chautauqua counties are represented by their respective Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service chapters. These entities will cover 16 counties across the state.

The Pumpkin Patrol operates simultaneously with standard State Police enforcement activities for the holiday. Officers will conduct increased patrols targeting impaired driving and underage drinking. The radio volunteers will listen for reports of unsafe behavior on the bridges and alert authorities to specific locations for immediate response.