State troopers began patrolling the streets of Hempstead Village Friday as part of a new plan to combat crime.

Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder says the village has seen six homicides and two additional shootings in 2019, along with an increase in gang violence.

In response, Nassau police and state police will be patrolling the village alongside the village police department for the next 30 days. A similar initiative was launched in March, but ended shortly after.

Ryder says this time, state police will provide one marked car with two officers, or two marked cars with one officer each, while Nassau County will have one marked car.

"Because of public safety concern, my administration reached out to the administration of Gov. Cuomo to see what support the state can give," says Nassau Executive Laura Curran.

Despite six murders this year so far and a shooting just days ago, Mayor Don Ryan says crime is down overall. He says violent crime has dropped 17% over the last five years, and property crime is down 11% this year.

Ryan did add, "Any additional manpower or womanpower, I think, is a plus for the people of our village."

Curran says the county also gave the village's police department $20,000 to purchase new equipment. The funds came from the asset and forfeiture fund.