Law enforcement in New York City

Law enforcement in New York City is carried out by numerous law enforcement agencies. New York City has the highest concentration of law enforcement agencies in the United States.

Law enforcement
in New York
Law enforcement in
Officers
Types of agencies
  • State
  • County
  • Municipal agencies
  • College and university
  • Other
  • Defunct
Law
New York State Criminal Procedure Law

As with the rest of the US, agencies operate at federal and state levels. However, New York City's unique nature means many more operate at lower levels.

Federal government agencies
Main article: Federal law enforcement in the United States

State government agencies

The Government of New York State operates one of the highest numbers of law enforcement agencies in the United States. While their jurisdiction stretches throughout New York City, many functions are duplicated by municipal agencies.

Government departments

Bi-state agencies
PatchForceParent departmentDutiesTitled asAmount of Personnel
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department Port Authority of New York and New JerseyGeneral law enforcement concerning PA areasNYS police officersApprox. 2200+
n/a Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor Police Waterfront Commission of New York HarbourGeneral law enforcement concerning Harbour/Waterfront Areasunknownunknown

City government agencies

Powers and Authority

Members of New York city law enforcement agencies receive their powers and authority from New York State Criminal Procedure Law in one of two ways:

  • as police officers, under Article 2, §1.20,
  • as peace officers, under Article 2, §2.10, sub 25 and special patrolmen, under Article 2, §2.10 sub 27 (note - all special patrolman are classified as, and have the same powers as, peace officers)

Designation as a special patrolman is unique to New York City, and is granted by the Commissioner of the NYPD under section 14-106 of the New York City Administrative Code in conjunction with the New York State Criminal Procedure Law Article 2 Section 2.10 Sub 27, and are governed by protocols of Chapter 11 Title 38 of the Rules of the City of New York. This designation provides (non commissioned) private sector Public Safety officers limited authority as peace officers while on-duty only.

Privatized Public Safety Officers must complete the New York State POST (Peace Officer Standard of Training) to become certified.

List of Agencies

There are at least sixteen City law enforcement agencies (including the FDNY Fire Marshals) and these are listed in the table below.

PatchForceParent departmentDutiesTypeAmount of PersonnelMotto
New York City Police Department (NYPD) -General law enforcement concerning New York Citypolice officers[3]Approx. 36,230New York's Finest
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police (DEP Police) New York City Department of Environmental ProtectionGeneral law enforcement at areas of New York City's water supply systempolice officers[4]Approx. 200
New York City Fire Department Fire Marshals New York City Fire Department (FDNY)The investigation of fires and arson within New York Citypolice officers[5]Approx. 150
New York City Sheriff's Office New York City Department of FinancePrimarily civil law enforcement and the investigation New York City tax and deed fraudpeace officers[6]Approx. 150
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Enforcement (TLC) New York City Taxi and Limousine CommissionThe enforcement of New York City taxi licensing regulations and traffic laws concerning livery vehiclespeace officers (NYC special patrolmen)[7]Approx. 205New York's Proudest
New York City Department of Homeless Services Police (NYC DHS Police) New York City Department of Homeless ServicesGeneral law enforcement at NYC-DHS facilitiespeace officers (NYC special patrolmen)[8]Approx. 380Policing With Compassion
New York City Human Resources Administration Police Department (NYC HRA Police) New York City Human Resources AdministrationGeneral law enforcement in NYC Human Resources Administration facilitiespeace officers (NYC special patrolmen)[9]Approx. 130New York's Courageous
New York City Department of Sanitation Police (DSNY Police) New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY)Primarily the enforcement of city sanitation laws and health code regulationspeace officers[10]Approx. 80New York's Strongest
New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol (NYC PEP) New York City Department of Parks and RecreationGeneral law enforcement at NYC Parks Dept.propertiespeace officers (NYC special patrolmen)[11]Approx. 85
New York City Department of Probation -Provides supervision for people placed on probation in the Supreme, Criminal, and Family courts.peace officers[12]unknown
City University of New York Public Safety Department City University of New York (CUNY)General law enforcement at CUNY campuses and facilitiespeace officers[13]Approx. 715
New York City Department of Investigation (NYC DOI) -The investigation of city governmental corruption & fraudpeace officers[14]unknown
New York City Department of Correction (NYCD) -Primarily general law enforcement within and concerning city correctional facilitiespeace officers[15]Approx. 9500New York's Boldest
New York City Police Department School Safety Division New York City Police Department (NYPD)General law enforcement at NYC public schoolspeace officers (NYC special patrolmen)[16]Approx. 5000
New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Police New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)General law enforcement at all NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services facilities.peace officers (NYC special patrolmen)[17]Approx. 15
New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Police (NHYP) New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (NYC HHC)Security and law enforcement at NYC HHC facilitiespeace officers[18]Approx. 1250New York's Courageous Beneficence, Honor, Fidelity
New York City Business Integrity Commission (BIC) New York City Business Integrity Commissionregulate the private catering industry, public wholesale markets businesses, and the shipboard gambling industrypeace officers[19]over 60 employees
New York City Administration for Children's Services Police New York City Administration for Children's ServicesSecurity and law enforcement at NYC ACS facilitiespeace officers (NYC special patrolmen)[20]unknown

Since 1942, correction and probation services have been handled by separate agencies, not the sheriff's office.[21]

The New York City Marshals, who are independent public officers enforcing civil debt, are not peace officers. New York City Marshals are regulated by the New York City Department of Investigation.[22]

Public Safety Officers

Some areas of New York City have "Public Safety Officers", which are neither totally private (see below) or city government (see above agencies).

  1. The Times Square Alliance has its own Public Safety Officers (PSOs) who act as the 'eyes and ears' for local police.[23] They are unarmed and their motto is: New York's Most Helpful.
  2. The Flatiron 23rd Street Partnership BID has its own Public Safety Officers who act as ambassadors for the area. They patrol in uniform, during the daytime, seven days a week, regardless of weather.[24]

Private agencies

Unique to New York City, a number of private communities and/or entities operate their own public safety agencies, they are New York State Peace Officers with limited authority in New York city).

PatchForceParent departmentDutiesTitleAmount of Personnel
Bay Terrace Public Safety Department Cord Meyer Development LLC - Bay Terrace Shopping CentrePublic Safety at Bay TerracePublic Safety-
Big Six Towers Public Safety Department Mitchell-Lama cooperative housing companyPublic Safety duties at Big Six TowersPublic Safety8
Co-op City Department of Public Safety (CCPD) Co-op CityPrimarily public safety of residents and visitors in Co-op Cityspecial patrolmenApprox. 100+
Hunts Point Department of Public Safety (HPPS) Hunts Point Cooperative MarketPublic Safety at Hunts Point Cooperative Market, protect the people and property of the market, including facilities, storefronts, railwaysspecial patrolmenApprox. 20
Morningside Heights Housing Corporation Department of Public Safety (MHHC PSD) Morningside GardensEnsure the security of all Morningside Gardens residents as well as the protection of Corporation property.Public Safety-
New York Racing Association Peace Officers New York Racing Associationresponsible for enforcing NYS laws as well as NYRA rules and regulations both on and around NYRA facilities per NYS lawspecial police officers-
Parkchester Department of Public Safety (PDPS) Parkchester, BronxPublic safety of residents and visitors, and commercial buildings in ParkchesterPublic SafetyApprox. 65
Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (RIPSD) Roosevelt Island Operating CorporationPublic safety duties at Roosevelt Island, and the Manhattan and Roosevelt Islands stations of the Roosevelt Island TramwayPublic Safety40
Sea Gate Police Department (SGPD) Seagate Home AssociationSGPD protect property, citizens and enforce state and city laws inside the community of Sea Gate, Brooklynpublic safety officersApprox. 10
Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town Public Safety (PCVST) Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper VillagePCVST PSD protect property, citizens and enforce state and city laws inside the communitypublic safety officersn/a
Starrett City Department of Public Safety Starrett CityPublic Safety of residents and property of Spring Creek Towers.public safety officers- 10

Prosecuting attorneys

In New York State, each county has an elected district attorney who is responsible for the prosecution of violations of New York state laws. Federal law in the city of New York is prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York or the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

OfficeOffice holderJurisdictionDuties
Bronx County District Attorney's OfficeDarcel ClarkThe BronxProsecution of violations of New York state laws
Kings County District Attorney's OfficeEric GonzalezBrooklynProsecution of violations of New York state laws
New York County District Attorney's OfficeCyrus Vance Jr.ManhattanProsecution of violations of New York state laws
Queens County District Attorney's OfficeJohn M. RyanQueens, New YorkProsecution of violations of New York state laws
Richmond County District Attorney's OfficeMichael McMahonStaten IslandProsecution of violations of New York state laws
Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New YorkBridget G. BrennanNew York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, RichmondProsecution of violations of New York state narcotics laws
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New YorkGeoffrey BermanNew York, Bronx, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, SullivanProsecution of violations of U.S. federal laws
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New YorkRichard P. DonoghueKings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, SuffolkProsecution of violations of U.S. federal laws

Disbanded agencies

See also

References
  1. https://www.usmarshals.gov/district/ny-e/index.html
  2. "Investigations Division - New York State Attorney General". ag.ny.gov.
  3. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 1, §1.30, ss 34(d)
  4. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 1, §1.30, ss 34(o)
  5. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 1, §1.30, ss 34(i)
  6. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 2 and ss 5
  7. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  8. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  9. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  10. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 59
  11. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  12. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 24
  13. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 79
  14. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 38
  15. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 25
  16. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  17. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  18. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 40
  19. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 82
  20. New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  21. McKinley, Jesse. "F.Y.I.", The New York Times, November 27, 1994. Accessed January 21, 2008. "Established in 1626, the Sheriff's office in Manhattan and its equivalents in the other boroughs served as a major part of the patchwork of law-enforcement agencies that existed before the city's consolidation in 1898. After that, the new New York City Police Department took over the responsibility for criminal investigations and arrests. As recently as 1942, the Sheriff was also responsible for manning and administering the city's jails, a duty now carried by the Department of Correction. Today, the sheriff's primary duties are enforcing court-ordered judgments and fines, including unpaid parking tickets and littering fines, and collecting judgments from reluctant losers in private lawsuits, said John George, the Sheriff's executive assistant. "
  22. "NYC Marshals Handbook". Website of the City of New York Department of Investigation. City of New York. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  23. https://www.timessquarenyc.org/about-the-alliance/public-safety-sanitation/public-safety-department
  24. https://www.flatirondistrict.nyc/bid-programs/public-safety
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.