New York City Police Department Highway Patrol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The NYPD Highway Patrol -- also known as the NYPD Highway District -- is a specialized unit under the auspices of the NYPD's Transportation Bureau primarily responsible for patrolling and maintaining traffic safety on limited-access highways within New York City. The NYPD Highway Patrol's other duties and roles include accident investigations, advanced driver and radar training for NYPD officers, field sobriety testing, dignitary and parade escorts, hazardous material and truck traffic enforcement, anti-drag racing programs, and anti-terrorist checkpoints at key bridges and intersections in the city. The NYPD's motorcycle squad is part of the Highway Patrol, and can be traced back as the historical founding nucleus of the Highway Patrol.
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[edit] History of the NYPD Highway Patrol
The NYPD Highway Patrol's origins begin in 1911 with the formation of the NYPD's first motorcycle squad, which was formed to meet the challenges of handling increasing traffic danger concomitant with the rise of automobile use. The unit -- then simply known as the Motorcycle Squad -- was enlarged as automobile traffic and speeding arose as major problems for the city, and in 1929, the unit was expanded to include armored motorcycles for use in anti-gang activities by the NYPD.
In 1933, the unit expanded to include a formally designated "Grand Central Parkway Motorcycle Squad" for patrol on a limited-access highway. Until 1972, the unit remained primarily focused on the Motorcycle Squad, when in that year the motorcycle division was merged with the NYPD's Accident Investigation Squad to officially form the NYPD Highway Patrol. The Highway Patrol patch was created, however, five years later in 1977.
[edit] The current NYPD Highway Patrol
The NYPD Highway Patrol is currently divided into five command units which correspond with the five boroughs of the city -- Highway Unit #1 in the Bronx, Highway Unit #2 in Brooklyn, Highway Unit #3 in Queens, Highway Unit #4 in Manhattan, and Highway Unit #5 in Staten Island. There are also specialized training units for Accident Investigation, Driver Training, and the Motor Carrier Safety Unit.
The Highway Patrol vehicle roster is primarily made up of Ford Crown Victorias or Chevrolet Impalas, but also includes two marked Ford Mustangs which were seized from drag racers and are used for routine patrol and special escorts. They are not termed as "cruisers" but rather as Radio Motor Patrol units (RMPs). Highway Patrol vehicles differ from more typical NYPD vehicles in that they feature a larger and more complex moveable light bar on the roof of their vehicles to promote greater visibility on highways as well as to warn oncoming vehicles of the presence of danger or an obstruction. Highway Patrol RMPs are additionally enforced with push bumpers to enable officers to push disabled vehicles off or out of a highway lane in order to smooth traffic flow. A Highway Patrol RMP is also distinguished from other NYPD automobiles by its "HWY" designation on the rear of the car followed by its command unit number; additional Highway Patrol stenciling may also be present across the front windshield.
In addition to automobiles, the Highway Patrol continues to use motorcycles in its daily traffic duties; currently the Highway Patrol uses Harley-Davidsons, and these are most prominently used when escorting visiting national or foreign dignitaries to New York, or when opening many of the city's parades.
In addition to the vehicular distinctions between the Highway Patrol and the general NYPD, there are differences in the uniforms as well. Aside from the Highway Patrol patch, Highway Patrol officers wear a uniform designed for both practical use and traditional connections with motorcycle patrol duty. In comparison with most NYPD officers' plain slacks or cargo pants, Highway Patrol members wear tapered motorcycle breeches with a uniform-width blue stripe, as well as a "crushed"-style version of the NYPD's eight-point cap or a two-toned motorcycle helmet. Motorcycle or riding boots are worn whether an officer is assigned to motorcycle duty or not (Except when working or assigned to the NYPD Highway Motor Carrier Safety Unit detail - regular black work boots or low quarters are authorized with cargo pants, jumpsuit, and nylon jacket), and the Highway unit is one of only two within the NYPD allowed to wear leather jackets (designed to prevent injuries from motorcycle crashes). Additional unique uniform features are the unit's use of a Sam Browne belt, sidearm lanyards, and a specialized summons book pouch on their belt. The uniform and vehicle distinctions help give the Highway Patrol unit an elite look and prominent presence within the larger department. It should be noted that the combination of the crushed cap/riding boots with the blue "distinction lace" on the Highway Patrol Uniform is in direct opposition United States Army traditions. It should b e noted that the "distinction lace" is actually called "piping", and was switched from black one inch to the blue piping under then NYPD PC William Bratton who initiated the change in order to imulate his old departments' motor unit, the Boston Police Department.
At present, there are between 250-450 members within the NYPD Highway Patrol. As with the NYPD as a whole, the number of officers within the unit fluctuates according to budgetary and political changes. Officers must volunteer and be selected to join the Highway Patrol unit, and usually must have between five to ten years of commendable experience as a patrol officer in order to qualify for a position. In many ways, the elite status of this unit and its traditions are similar to that of the NYPD Mounted Unit.
[edit] Similar units
The NYPD Highway Patrol occupies an unusual position as a municipality-based limited-access highway patrol and specialized task unit in the United States. Only a few other cities feature a similarly elite unit, most notably Philadelphia and its Philadelphia Highway Patrol and Boston's Special Operations Unit. The nearby counties of Nassau and Suffolk on Long Island also have highway patrol units within their county police departments for patrol work on Long Island's expressways.
