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.

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

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

Other state agencies

City government agencies

Members of city law enforcement agencies get their powers and privileges from the state Criminal Procedure Law in one of three ways:

Designation as a special patrolman is unique to New York City, and is given by the Commissioner of the NYPD under section 14-106 of the administrative code of the city of New York. This designation gives special patrolmen the same powers and privileges as peace officers while on duty, with five exceptions - school safety officers, parking control specialists, taxi and limousine inspectors, urban park rangers and evidence and property control specialists.

Force Parent department Duties Status Size
New York City Police Department - General law enforcement police officers 36,227
School Safety Agents New York City Police Department Safety and Security in NYC Public Schools special patrolmen 5,000
New York City Sheriff's Office New York City Department of Finance Primarily civil law enforcement and city tax law enforcement peace officers 150
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police New York City Department of Environmental Protection Primarily the protection of the city's water supply system police officers 154
New York City Department of Investigation - Public corruption & fraud peace officers -
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Enforcement - Enforcing taxi licensing law special patrolmen -
New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Police New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation General law enforcement at city-owned hospitals & clinics peace officers 1200
New York City Human Resources Administration Police Department New York City Human Resources Administration General law enforcement at HRA facilities peace officers 73
New York City Department of Homeless Services Police New York City Department of Homeless Services General law enforcement at DHS facilities peace officers 380
New York City Department of Sanitation Police New York City Department of Sanitation Primarily the enforcement of city sanitation and recycling laws peace officers 130
New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol New York City Department of Parks and Recreation General law enforcement in parks special patrolmen 85
City University of New York Public Safety Department City University of New York General law enforcement on campus peace officers 714
New York City Fire Department Fire Marshals New York City Fire Department Investigating fires and arson police officers 140
New York City Department of Correction - Primarily general law enforcement in correctional facilities peace officers 9500
New York City Department of Probation - Probation and parole enforcement peace officers 782
New York City Administration for Children Services Police New York City Administration for Children Services General relevant law enforcement peace officers -

Since 1942, corrections and probation have been handled by separate agencies, not the sheriff's office,[1] as opposed to the normal US practice of municipal-level services being carried out by sheriffs.

The 83 New York City Marshals, who operate under the New York City Department of Investigation but are independent public officers who enforce civil debts, are not peace officers.[2]

Private agencies

Uniquely, for the United States, a number of private companies operate their own public safety departments. Their members are either peace officers or special patrolmen and have Peace Officers powers in New York state:

Additionally, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals employed 14 members as peace officers, responsible for investigating cases of animal cruelty until they were disbanded in 2013, with the roles and duties handed over to the New York Police Department.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 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. "
  2. ↑ "NYC Marshals Handbook". Website of the City of New York Department of Investigation. City of New York. Retrieved 26 April 2014.