New York City Police Department

City of New York Police Department
Common name	New York City Police Department
Abbreviation	NYPD
Patch of the City of New York Police Department
Flag of the City of New York Police Department
Motto	Fidelis ad mortem (English: "Faithful Unto Death")
Agency overview
Formed	1845 (1845)
Employees	49,526 (2013)[1]
Annual budget	$4.8 billion
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction*	State of New York, U.S.
Map of City of New York Police Department's jurisdiction.
Size	468.9 square miles (1,214 km2)
Population	8,550,405[2]
Legal jurisdiction	New York City
General nature	Law enforcement Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	1 Police Plaza Park Row Lower Manhattan (across the street from City Hall)
Police Commissioner responsible	James P. O'Neill[3]
Agency executive	Carlos M. Gomez[4], Chief of Department
Parent agency	City Administrator's Office
Units	List Auxiliary Police Aviation Crime Scene Unit Anti-Crime Unit Special Operations Division Emergency Service Highway Patrol Housing Bureau Evidence Collection Counterterrorism Major Case Squad Movie and Television Organized Crime Control Bureau Real Time Crime Scuba Team and Harbor Special Victims School Safety Taxi Squad Transit Bureau Transportation Bureau
Boroughs	List Manhattan North Manhattan South Brooklyn North Brooklyn South Queens North Queens South Bronx Staten Island
Facilities
Commands	77 Precincts 12 Transit Districts 9 Housing Police Service Areas
Police cars	8,839
Police boats	11
Helicopters	8
Horses	120
Dogs	31 German Shepherds 3 Bloodhounds
Website
www.NYC.gov
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD), officially the City of New York Police Department, is the largest municipal police force in the United States.^[5] Established in 1845, the agency has primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City. The NYPD is one of the oldest police departments established in the U.S., tracing its roots back to the nineteenth century.

The NYPD has a broad array of specialized services, including the Emergency Service Unit, K9, harbor patrol, air support, bomb disposal, counter-terrorism, criminal intelligence, anti-gang, anti-organized crime, narcotics, public transportation, and public housing; the New York City Transit Police and New York City Housing Authority Police Department were fully integrated into the NYPD in 1995. According to the department, its mission is to "enforce the laws, preserve the peace, reduce fear, and provide for a safe environment." The department's regulations are compiled in title 38 of the New York City Rules.

In June 2004, there were about 40,000 sworn officers plus several thousand civilian employees; in June 2005, the number of officers dropped to 35,000. As of December 2011, that figure increased slightly to over 36,600, helped by the graduation of a class of 1,500 from the New York City Police Academy. The NYPD's current authorized uniformed strength is 34,450.^[6] There are also approximately 4,500 Auxiliary Police Officers, 5,000 School Safety Agents, 2,300 Traffic Enforcement Agents, and 370 Traffic Enforcement Supervisors currently employed by the department. The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York (NYC PBA), the largest municipal police union in the United States, represents over 50,000 active and retired NYC police officers.

The NYPD Intelligence Division & Counter-Terrorism Bureau has officers stationed in 11 cities internationally.^[7][8] In the 1990s the department developed a CompStat system of management which has also since been established in other cities.

The NYPD is headquartered at 1 Police Plaza, located on Park Row in Lower Manhattan across the street from City Hall.^[9]

The NYPD has extensive crime scene investigation and laboratory resources, as well as units which assist with computer crime investigations. The NYPD runs a "Real Time Crime Center", essentially a large search engine and data warehouse operated by detectives to assist officers in the field with their investigations.^[10] A Domain Awareness System, a joint project of Microsoft and the NYPD, links 6,000 closed-circuit television cameras, license plate readers, and other surveillance devices into an integrated system.^[11]

Due to its high-profile location in the largest city and media center in the United States, fictionalized versions of the NYPD and its officers have frequently been portrayed in novels, radio, television, motion pictures, and video games.

History

The Municipal Police were established in 1845, replacing an old night watch system. Mayor William Havemeyer shepherded the NYPD together, originating the phrase "New York's Finest."^[12] In 1857, it was tumultuously replaced by a Metropolitan force, which consolidated many other local police departments in 1898. Twentieth-century trends included professionalization and struggles against corruption.

Rank structure

Officers begin service with the rank of Probationary Police Officer, also referred to as Recruit Officer. After successful completion of six months of Police Academy training and various academic, physical, and tactical tests, officers graduate from the Police Academy. While officially retaining the title of Probationary Police Officer, graduates are referred to as a Police Officer, or informally as a "Rookie", until they have completed an additional 18 months probationary period.

There are three career "tracks" in the NYPD: supervisory, investigative, and specialist. The supervisory track consists of 12 sworn titles, referred to as ranks. Promotion to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, and captain are made via competitive civil service examinations. Promotion to the ranks of deputy inspector, inspector, deputy chief, assistant chief, and chief are made at the discretion of the police commissioner, after successfully passing a series of civil service exams. Promotion from the rank of police officer to detective is determined by the current police labor contract, with the approval of the commissioner. The entry level appointment to detective is third grade or specialist. The commissioner may grant discretionary grades of first or second. These grades offer compensation roughly equivalent to that of supervisors. Specifically, a second grade detective's pay roughly corresponds to a sergeant's and a first grade detective's pay roughly corresponds to a lieutenant's. Detectives are police officers who have been given a more investigatory position but no official supervisory authority. A Detective First Grade still falls under the command of a sergeant or above. Just like detectives, sergeants and lieutenants can receive pay grade increases within their respective ranks.

Title	Insignia	Badge design	Badge color	Badge number	Uniform
Chief of Department		Medallion with eagle and star(s)	Gold, with silver star(s)	No	White shirt, black peaked cap, gold hat badge
Bureau Chief Supervising Chief Surgeon
Assistant Chief Assistant Chief Chaplain † Assistant Chief Surgeon
Deputy Chief Deputy Chief Chaplain † District Surgeon
Inspector Chaplain † Police Surgeon		Medallion with eagle	Gold
Deputy Inspector		Laurels and crown with oak leaves
Captain		Laurels and crown
Lieutenant		Medallion
Sergeant	(sleeve)	Shield with eagle		Yes	Navy blue shirt, peaked cap, gold hat badge
Detective (grades 3rd–1st)	None	Medallion
Police officer		Shield	Silver	Yes, matching hat badge	Navy blue shirt, peaked cap, silver hat badge with matching number
Probationary Police officer
Recruit officer				Yes	Slate grey, black garrison cap
Cadet		None

^ †: Uniform rank that has no police powers

There are two basic types of detective in the NYPD: detective-investigators and detective-specialists.

Detective-Investigators are the type most people associate with the term "detective" and are the ones most frequently portrayed on television and in the movies. Most police officers gain their detective title by working in the Narcotics Division of the Organized Crime Control Bureau and are then moved to the Detective Bureau. Detectives assigned to squads are co-located within each precinct and are responsible for investigating murders, rapes, robberies, burglaries and other crimes within that precinct's boundaries. Other detective-investigators are assigned to specialized units at either the major command or citywide level, investigating terrorist groups, organized crime, narcotics dealing, extortion, bias crimes, political corruption, kidnappings, major frauds or thefts committed against banks or museums, police corruption, contractor fraud and other complex, politically sensitive or high-profile cases. A squad of detective-investigators is also assigned to each of the city's five district attorneys' offices. (Arsons are investigated by The Arson and Explosion Squad as well as fire marshals, who are part of the New York City Fire Department.)

Promotion from Police Officer to Detective-Investigator is based on investigative experience. Typically, a Police Officer who is assigned to investigative work for 18 months will be designated "Detective-Investigator" and receive the gold shield and pay increase commensurate with that designation. In the recent past, however, there has been controversy over the budget-conscious department compelling police officers to work past the 18 months without receiving the new title.

Newly appointed detectives start at Detective Third Grade, which has a pay rate roughly between that of Police Officer and Sergeant. As they gain seniority and experience, they can be "promoted" to Detective Second-Grade, which has a pay grade slightly less than sergeants. Detective First-Grade is an elite designation for the department's most senior and experienced investigators and carries a pay grade slightly less than Lieutenants. All these promotions are discretionary on the part of the Commissioner and can be revoked if warranted. And while senior detectives can give directions to junior detectives in their own squads, not even the most senior detective can lawfully issue orders to even a junior patrol officer. All Detective grades still fall under the "chain of command" of the supervisory ranks beginning with Sergeant through Chief of Department. Detectives, like Police Officers, are eligible to take the promotional civil service exams for entry into the supervisory ranks.

While carrying with them increased pay and prestige, none of these Detective grades confer on the holder any supervisory authority. Contrary to some media portrayals, there is no specific rank of "Detective Sergeant" or "Detective Lieutenant". Lieutenants and Sergeants are assigned to oversee Detective squads as Supervisors, and are responsible for all investigations.

There is a small percentage of Lieutenants and Sergeants who work as Investigative Supervisors (approximately equal to 10% of their respective ranks) and are granted the prestigious pay grade designations of "Sergeant—Supervisor Detective Squad" (SDS), or Lieutenant—Commander Detective Squad (CDS) therefore assuming full Investigative command responsibility as opposed to operational supervision. Their pay grade rises to an approximate midpoint between their normal rank and the next highest rank's pay grade, and similar to a Detective's "grade", is also a discretionary promotion. This pay grade designation is achieved by assignment to Investigative units, i.e. Detective Bureau, Internal Affairs Bureau, Counter-Terrorism Bureau, Intelligence Bureau, and Organized Crime Control Bureau. Lieutenants and Sergeants in non-investigatory assignments can be designated Lieutenant-Special Assignment or Sergeant-Special Assignment, pay equivalent to their investigative counterparts.

"Detective-specialists" are a relatively new designation and one unique to the NYPD. In the 1980s, many detectives resented that some officers were being granted the rank of detective in order to give them increased pay and status, but were not being assigned to investigative duties. Examples included officers assigned as bodyguards and drivers to the mayor, police commissioner and other senior officials.

To remedy this situation, the rank of detective-specialist was created. These officers are typically found in specialized units because they possess a unique or esoteric skill the department needs, e.g., crime-scene tech, sharpshooter, bomb technician, scuba instructor, helicopter instructor, sketch artist, etc. Like detective-investigators, detective-specialists start at third-grade and can be promoted to second- or first-grade status.

The Department is administered and governed by the Police Commissioner, who is appointed by the Mayor. Technically, the commissioner serves a five-year term; as a practical matter, the commissioner serves at the Mayor's pleasure. The commissioner in turn appoints numerous deputy commissioners. The commissioner and his subordinate deputies are civilians under an oath of office and are not uniformed members of the force who are sworn officers of the law. However, a police commissioner who comes up from the uniformed ranks retains that status while serving as police commissioner. This has ramifications for their police pensions and the fact that any police commissioner who is considered sworn does not need a pistol permit to carry a firearm, and does retain the statutory powers of a police officer. Some police commissioners (like Ray Kelly) do carry a personal firearm, but they also have a full-time security detail from the Police Commissioner's (Detective) Squad.

A First Deputy Police Commissioner may have a security detail when he/she acts as commissioner or under other circumstances as approved by the police commissioner.

Commissioner titles:

Title	Insignia
Police Commissioner
First Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner

These individuals are administrators who supersede the Chief of Department, and they usually specialize in areas of great importance to the Department, such as counterterrorism, operations, training, public information, legal matters, intelligence, and information technology. Despite their role, as civilian administrators of the Department, deputy commissioners are prohibited from taking operational control of a police situation (the Commissioner and the First Deputy Commissioner may take control of these situations, however).

Within the rank structure, there are also designations, known as "grades", that connote differences in duties, experience, and pay. However, supervisory functions are generally reserved for the rank of sergeant and above.

Badges in the New York City Police Department are referred to as "shields" (the traditional term), though not all badge designs are strictly shield-shaped. Every rank has a different badge design (with the exception of Police Officer and Probationary Police Officer), and upon change in rank officers receive a new badge. Lower-ranked police officers are identified by their shield numbers, and tax registry number. Lieutenants and above do not have shield numbers and are identified by tax registry number. All sworn members of the NYPD have their ID card photos taken against a red background. Civilian employees of the NYPD have their ID card photos taken against a blue background, signifying that they are not commissioned to carry a firearm. All ID cards have an expiration date.

Medals

The NYPD presents medals to its members for meritorious service.

Organization and structure

Office of the Chief of Department

The Chief of Department serves as the senior sworn member of the NYPD.^[13] Carlos M. Gomez is the 39th individual to hold the post, which prior to 1973 was known as the Chief of Operations and before that as Chief Inspector.^[14]

Bureaus

The Department is divided into twenty bureaus,^[15] which are typically commanded by a uniformed Bureau Chief (such as the Chief of Patrol and the Chief of Housing) or a civilian Deputy Commissioner (such as the Deputy Commissioner of Information Technology). The bureaus fit under four umbrellas: Patrol, Transit & Housing, Investigative, and Administrative. Bureaus are often subdivided until smaller divisions and units.

Bureau	Commander	Description	Subdivisions
Patrol Services Bureau	Chief of Patrol	The Patrol Services Bureau is the largest and most visible bureau in the NYPD, overseeing the majority of the department's uniformed officers on patrol.	The bureau is divided into eight borough commands, which are further divided into 77 police precincts.
Citywide Operations Bureau	Chief of Citywide Operations	Citywide Operations was created to enhance the department's coordinated response to major events and incidents that require specifically trained and equipped personnel.	The bureau oversees the Special Operations Division, which includes the Emergency Service Unit, the Aviation Unit, the Harbor Unit, and the Mounted Unit. The bureau is also responsible for the Strategic Response Group and the Crisis Outreach and Support Unit.
Transit Bureau	Chief of Transit	The Transit Bureau is responsible for the safety and security of the 5.6 million passengers who use the New York City subways each day. Providing police services for the busiest metropolitan rail system in the nation, members of the Transit Bureau patrol the subway's 25 lines, 472 stations, and nearly 250 miles of passenger rail line.	The bureau comprises 12 transit districts, each located within or adjacent to the subway system, and overseen by three borough commands: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx/Queens. District personnel are supplemented by members of several specialized units within the Transit Bureau—including three borough Task Forces, Anti-Terrorism Unit, Citywide Vandals Task Force, Canine Unit, Special Projects Unit, and MetroCard Fraud Task Force.
Housing Bureau	Chief of Housing	The Housing Bureau is responsible for the safety of nearly a half-million residents, employees, and visitors in the city's housing developments.	The bureau is divided into nine police service bureaus, which each cover a collection of housing developments.
Transportation Bureau	Chief of Transportation	The Transportation Bureau is responsible for the safety and security of motorists, passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists on the streets and highways throughout New York City and manages traffic control.	The bureau oversees the Traffic Management Center, Highway District, Traffic Operations District, and Traffic Enforcement District, in addition to several units.
Counterterrorism Bureau	Chief of Counterterrorism	The NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau (CT) is the city's primary local resource to guard against the threat of international and domestic terrorism in New York City.	The bureau contains the Critical Response Command, Counterterrorism Division, Terrorism Threat Analysis Group, Lower Manhattan Security Initiative, and World Trade Center Command.
Crime Control Strategies Bureau	Chief of Crime Control Strategies	The Office of Crime Control Strategies analyzes and monitors trends across the city and develops strategies targeted to reducing crime, ensuring that these strategies are applied across all units of the NYPD.	The bureau is divided into the CompStat Unit and Crime Analysis Unit.
Detective Bureau	Chief of Detectives	The Detective Bureau is responsible for the prevention, detection, and investigation of crime, and its work often complements the work of police officers assigned to the precincts.	The bureau oversees the Borough Investigative Commands, Special Victims Division, Forensic Investigations Division, Special Investigations Division, Criminal Enterprise Division, Fugitive Enforcement Division, Real Time Crime Center, District Attorneys Squad, Grand Larceny Division, Gun Violence Suppression Division, and Vice Enforcement Division.
Intelligence Bureau	Chief of Intelligence	The mission of the NYPD Intelligence Bureau is to detect and disrupt criminal and terrorist activity through the use of intelligence-led policing.	NYPD Intelligence operations are divided by functional responsibility: Intelligence Operations and Analysis Section (IOAS) and the Criminal Intelligence Section (CIS).
Internal Affairs Bureau	Deputy Commissioner of Internal Affairs	The Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) is dedicated to preserving integrity, which is critical to the function of the Police Department, and fighting corruption within the NYPD. IAB helps to ensure that trust by detecting, investigating, and bringing to justice the small number of New York City police officers and civilians who engage in misconduct and corruption.	N/A
Administration	Deputy Commissioner of Administration	The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Administration (DCA), was created in early 2014 to enhance morale, improve employee engagement, and foster communication within the Department. DCA acts as the liaison to the department's fraternal, religious, and line organizations.	DCA oversees the Employee Relations Section, the Chaplains Unit, and the Ceremonial Unit.
Collaborative Policing	Deputy Commissioner of Collaborative Policing	The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Collaborative Policing (DCCP), focuses on partnering with other city agencies, non-profits, community-based organizations, the faith-based community, and other New York City stakeholders on a wide variety of public-safety initiatives.	N/A
Community Affairs Bureau	Chief of Community Affairs	The Community Affairs Bureau (CAB) plays a critical role in the department's refocused approach to achieving and sustaining gains against crime by strengthening community relationships and trust. The bureau partners with community leaders, civic organizations, block associations, and concerned citizens to educate them on police policies and practices, and to develop solutions to challenges that arise within the city's many diverse communities.	The Community Affairs Bureau oversees four divisions: Community Outreach Division, Crime Prevention Division, Juvenile Justice Division, and School Safety Division.
Information Technology Bureau	Deputy Commissioner of Information Technology	The Information Technology Bureau (ITB) plays an integral role in establishing the NYPD as one of the leading counterterrorism and crime-fighting forces in the nation, developing and implementing cutting-edge technology to support strategies, programs and procedures that promote safety, efficiency, and effectiveness.	ITB has six divisions: Administration, Fiscal Affairs, Strategic Technology, IT Services Division, Life-Safety Systems, and the Communications Division.
Legal Matters	Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters	The NYPD Legal Bureau provides assistance to law enforcement personnel regarding department legal matters.	The bureau comprises the Civil Enforcement Unit, Criminal Section, Civil Section, Legislative Affairs Unit, Document Production/FOIL, and the Police Action Litigation Section (PALS).
Personnel	Chief of Personnel	The Personnel Bureau is responsible for the recruitment and selection of personnel and for managing the human resource functions of the NYPD.	The bureau oversees the Candidate Assessment Division, Career Enhancement Division, Employee Management Division, Personnel Orders Section, and Staff Services Section.
Public Information	Deputy Commissioner of Public Information	The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information (DCPI), works with local, national, and international media organizations to provide the most accurate and timely information to the public.	N/A
Risk Management	Assistant Chief, Risk Management	The Risk Management Bureau measures the performance of police officers and identifies officers who might be in need of enhanced training or supervision.	N/A
Support Services Bureau	Deputy Commissioner of Support Services	While the bureau handles a wide range of equipment and storage-related functions, the bulk of its operations center on the NYPD's vehicle fleet and its evidence warehouses.	The Support Services Bureau oversees the Fleet Services Division, Property Clerk Division, Central Records Division, and the Printing Section.
Training Bureau	Deputy Commissioner of Training	The NYPD Training Bureau provides recruits, uniformed officers, and civilians with the most up-to-date academic, tactical, and technological information available, transforming them into the best trained, most prepared law enforcement professionals in the nation.	The Training Bureau's training section includes: Recruit Training Section, Physical Training and Tactics Department, Tactical Training Unit, Firearms and Tactics Section, COBRA Training, In-Service Tactical Training Unit, Driver Education and Training Unit, Computer Training Unit, Civilian Training Program, School Safety Training Unit, Instructor Development Unit, Criminal Investigation Course, Leadership Development Section, and Citizens Police Academy.

Personnel

Crime prevention

Domain Awareness System

In August 2008, the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative in a partnership between the New York City Police Department and Microsoft began the Domain Awareness System to monitor New York City.^[16] The program allowed the department to track surveillance targets and gain detailed information about them. The system is connected to 6,000^[17] video cameras around New York City as well as check radiological and nuclear detectors onboard helicopters, trucks and boats as well as detectors on police officers' gun belts that were so sensitive that people who have had medical procedures may trigger them. Lower Manhattan now includes thousands of surveillance cameras that can identify shapes and sizes of unidentified "suspicious" packages and can track people within seconds using descriptions such as "someone wearing a red shirt". In 2009, an extension into Midtown Manhattan was announced^[18] and by 2012 the program was fully implemented.

The system was also licensed out to other cities with New York City getting 30% of the profits.^[19] The system's development costs were estimated at US$40 million.^[20]

This system was highlighted in a May 2013 episode of PBS' Nova on tracking the Boston Marathon Bombers.^[21]

Demographics

As of the end of 2010, 53% of the entire 34,526-member police force were white and 47% were members of minority groups. Of 22,199 officers on patrol, 53% (11,717) were black, Latino (of any race), or Asian or Asian-American, and 47% (10,482) were non-Hispanic white. Of 5,177 detectives, 57% (2,953) were white and 43% (2,224) were people of color. Of 4,639 sergeants, 61% (2,841) were white and 39% (1,798) were minorities. Of 1,742 lieutenants, 76% (1,323) were white and 24% (419) were people of color. Of 432 captains, 82% (356) were white and 18% (76) were minorities. Of 10 chiefs, 7 were white and 3 were people of color. In 2002, whites accounted for 60% of members in the rank of police officer. Between 2002 and 2010, the number of minorities in top-tier positions in the force increased by about 4.5%.^[22]

Corruption and misconduct

The Civilian Complaint Review Board is an all-civilian, 13-member panel tasked with investigating misconduct or lesser abuse accusations against NYPD officers, including use of excessive force, abuse of authority, discourtesy and offensive language. Complaints against officers may be filed online, by U.S. mail, by phone or in person at any NYPD station.^[23]

Affiliations

The NYPD is affiliated with the New York City Police Foundation and the New York City Police Museum. It also runs a Youth Police academy to provide positive interaction with police officers and to educate young people about the challenges and responsibility of police work. The department also provides a citizen Police Academy which educates the public on basic law and policing procedures.

Line of duty deaths

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, the NYPD has lost 867 officers in the line of duty since 1849, the most recent officer having been lost on July 5, 2017.^[24] This figure includes officers from agencies that were absorbed by or became a part of the modern NYPD in addition to the modern department itself. This number also includes officers killed on and off duty by gunfire of other officers on duty. The NYPD lost 23 officers in the September 11, 2001 attacks, not including another 61 who died of illnesses related to the attacks.^[24]

Type	Number
9/11-related illness	100
Accidental	9
Aircraft accident	7
Animal related	18
Assault	32
Automobile accident	51
Bicycle accident	4
Boating accident	5
Bomb	2
Drowned	12
Duty-related illness	10
Electrocuted	5
Explosion	8
Exposure	1
Exposure to toxins	3
Fall	10
Fire	16
Gunfire	327
Gunfire (accidental)	25
Heart attack	47
Motorcycle accident	36
Stabbed	21
Struck by streetcar	7
Struck by train	5
Struck by vehicle	39
Structure collapse	3
Terrorist attack	24
Vehicle pursuit	12
Vehicular assault	21
Total	867[25]

Vehicles

Patrol cars
Ford Crown Victoria  United States (origin)  Canada (manufacture)	Ford Police Interceptor Sedan[26][27]  United States	Chevrolet Impala  United States (origin)  Canada (manufacture)	Ford Fusion Hybrid  United States
Nissan Altima  Japan (origin)  United States (manufacture)	Dodge Charger  United States (origin)  Canada (manufacture) Highway patrol	Toyota Prius  Japan Traffic enforcement	Chevrolet Volt  United States Traffic enforcement
SUVs
Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon  United States	Ford Explorer Special Service Vehicle  United States Patrol and Traffic Enforcement	Ford Escape Hybrid  United States Patrol and Traffic Enforcement
Parking enforcement
Westward Go-4 Interceptor  Canada	Cushman  United States	Smart ForTwo  Germany	Ford Tow Truck  United States
Emergency Service Unit vehicles
Lenco Peacekeeper  United States Armored vehicle two in use by the ESU	Lenco BearCat  United States Armored vehicle five in use by the ESU	Modified Ford F-550  United States ESU Radio Emergency Patrol	Mack  United States ESU Heavy Rescue Truck
Communications vans
Chevrolet van  United States	LDV 40' Freightliner MT55  United Kingdom Communications Division Command Post	Modified Blue Bird All American  United States Communications Division Command post
Police buses
AmTran body on Navistar International chassis  United States	TMC/Nova Bus RTS  United States	Orion V Suburban  Canada (origin)  United States (manufacture)
Helicopters
AgustaWestland AW119  United Kingdom &  Italy	Bell Helicopter Bell 412  United States
Miscellaneous
Ford E-Series  United States	Modified Hummer H1  United States	John Deere Gator  United States	GMC C6500  United States
Scooter  United States	Kenworth Dump Truck  United States

There are many more NYPD Vehicles that are not on this list.

Vehicles also include police motorcycles.

Vehicle appearance

• 
  NYPD Vehicles

The current NYPD vehicle appearance is an all-white vehicle body with two blue stripes along each side of the car. The word "POLICE" is printed in small text above the front wheel wells, and as "NYPD Police" above the grille opening. The NYPD shoulder patch is printed on both sides just in front of the front doors or on the front doors. The letters "NYPD" are printed in blue Rockwell Extra Bold font on the front doors, and the NYPD motto "Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect" is printed on the rear doors. The unit's shop number is printed on the rear decklid. The shop number is also printed on the rear side panels above the gas intake, along with the number of the unit's assigned precinct.

Some Traffic Enforcement units used a modified paint job, with dark blue carbody and white stripes on the sides. The text on the car is also printed in white. These are being phased out in favor of units painted in a modified version of the regular NYPD paint job, with the word "TRAFFIC" printed on the rear side panels and trunk.

Some NYPD Auxiliary units used a modified paint job, with dark blue or black carbody and white stripes on the sides. The text on the car is also printed in white. These are being phased out in favor of units painted in a modified version of the regular NYPD paint job, with the word "Auxiliary" printed on the rear side panels and trunk.

Firearms

On duty

New NYPD officers are allowed to choose from one of three 9mm service pistols: the SIG Sauer P226 DAO, Glock 17/19, and Smith & Wesson 5946 (no longer available for new hires, only grandfathered members of the service).^[28][29] All are modified to a 12-pound (53 N) NY-2 trigger pull.^[30] Officers who purchased revolvers prior to the transition to semi-automatic pistols on January 1, 1994, are "grandfathered" and if so can choose to continue to carry a revolver as a duty weapon.

Shotgun-certified officers were authorized to carry Ithaca 37 shotguns, which are being phased out in favor of the newer Mossberg 590. Officers and detectives belonging to special investigative units, the Organized Crime Control Bureau and the NYPD's Emergency Service Unit are armed with a range of select-fire weapons and long guns, such as the Colt M4A1 carbine and similar-pattern AR-15 rifles, Ruger Mini-14 rifle, Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, and the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle.^[31]

Off duty

The firearms approved by the NYPD for off duty carry are the Glock 26, Smith & Wesson 3914 DAO, Smith & Wesson 3953TSW, Smith & Wesson Model 640 (.38 revolver), SIG Sauer P239 DAO, Springfield XDS, Smith & Wesson M&P Shield and the Beretta 8000D Mini Cougar.

Discontinued from service

From 1926 until 1986 the standard weapons of the department were the Smith & Wesson Model 10 and the Colt Official Police .38 Special revolvers with four-inch barrels. Prior to 1994 the standard weapon of the NYPD was the Smith & Wesson Model 64 DAO (Double Action Only) .38 Special revolver with a three or four inch barrel. This type of revolver was called the Model NY-1 by the department.

Prior to the issuing of the 9mm semi-automatic pistol NYPD detectives and plainclothes officers often carried the Colt Detective Special and/or the Smith & Wesson Model 36 "Chief's Special" .38 Special caliber snub-nosed (2-inch) barrel revolvers for their ease of concealment while dressed in civilian clothes.

The Kahr K9 9 mm pistol was an approved off-duty/backup weapon from 1998 to 2011. It was pulled from service because it could not be modified to a 12-pound trigger pull.

In popular culture

See also

• New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH), for hearings conducted on certain summonses issued by the NYPD
• Law enforcement in the United States
• Law enforcement in New York
• Law enforcement in New York City
• List of law enforcement agencies in New York
• Mary Shanley, 4th female detective

References

Further reading

• Darien, Andrew T. Becoming New York's Finest: Race, Gender, and the Integration of the NYPD, 1935–1980. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.
• Miller, Wilbur R. Cops and bobbies: Police authority in New York and London, 1830–1870 (The Ohio State University Press, 1999)
• Monkkonen, Eric H. Police in Urban America, 1860–1920 (2004)
• Richardson, James F. The New York Police, Colonial Times to 1901 (Oxford University Press, 1970)
• Richardson, James F. "To Control the City: The New York Police in Historical Perspective". In Cities in American History, eds. Kenneth T. Jackson and Stanley K. Schultz (1972) pp. 3–13.
• Thale, Christopher. "The Informal World of Police Patrol: New York City in the Early Twentieth Century", Journal of Urban History (2007) 33#2 pp. 183–216.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to New York City Police Department.

• Official website
• Police Department in the Rules of the City of New York
• "New York City Police Department collected news and commentary". The New York Times. 
• Google (2015-01-17). "Map of NYC Law Enforcement Line of Duty Deaths" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 2015-01-17. 
• "With the Sky Police", Popular Mechanics, January 1932 article about the NY City Police Air Force and the Keystone-Loening Commuter in service at that time, photos pp. 26–30
• NYPD Annual Reports 1912–1923 (digitized books) from the Lloyd Sealy Library on the Internet Archive
• Historical images from the NYPD Annual Reports, 1923–23 from the Lloyd Sealy Library Digital Collections