Law enforcement in New York City

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Law enforcement in New York City is carried out by numerous federal, state, city and private agencies. New York City has the highest concentration of law enforcement in the United States.

Contents

Powers

Members of New York City law enforcement agencies receive their powers and authority from New York State Criminal Procedure Law as listed:

Authority

Peace officers

Peace officers are listed and defined under criminal procedure law 2.20. [3] The authority of peace officers are very limited by sections and/or subdivisions of the criminal procedure law, New York State penal law and employer restrictions.

Special patrolmen

Designation as a NYC special patrolmen AKA [special officer] [4] is unique in New York City, it is granted by the Police Commissioner of New York City Police Department NYPD to New York City agencies, private owned and operated companies Non government who are responsible for maintaining safety and security at facilities and properties in connection with their special duties of employment. Such designation confers very limited NYS Peace Officer authority upon the employee pursuant to New York State Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10 sub(27). The exercise of this authority is very limited to the employee's geographical area of employment and only while such employee is working, and also by sections and/or subdivisions of the criminal procedure law, New York State penal law and employer restrictions.

List of City Agencies

PatchAgencyParent AgencyFunctionTitleNumber of Personnel
Patch of the New York City Police Department.svg New York City Police Department -Responsible for the Policing and investigations of all crimes in New York CityPolice Officers [5] Approx. 36,230
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)Responsible for the protecting of NYC's water supply systemPolice Officers [6] Approx. 200
Emblem of the New York City Fire Department.svg New York City Fire Department Fire Marshals New York City Fire Department (FDNY)Responsible for the Investigation of serious fires and arson within NYCPolice Officers [7] Approx. 150
New York City Sheriff's Office New York City Department of Finance (DOF)Responsible for the enforcing of civil court orders and investigate tax and deed fraud in NYCPeace Officers [8] Approx. 150
NYC-DOC.png New York City Department of Correction -Responsible for the care and custody of inmate in NYC correctional facilitiesPeace Officers [9] Approx. 9500
New York City Department of Probation -Responsible for supervision people placed on probation by the NYC court system.Peace Officers [10] Approx 60
New York City Administration for Children's Services Police New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS)Responsible for the safety and security at New York City Administration for Children's Services facilities including juvenile justice detention centersSpecial Officer [11]
New York City Business Integrity Commission -Responsible for regulating private catering industry, public wholesale markets businesses, and the shipboard gambling industrySpecial Patrolmen [12] Approx 60
New DCAS Logo Final 2018-HZCombo2C.jpg New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Police New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services facilities.Special Officer [13] Approx. 15
NYC Health + Hospitals logo.svg New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Police New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC)Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Health and Hospital facilitiesSpecial Officer [14] Approx. 1250
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Police New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene facilities.Special Officer [15] Approx 10
New York City Department of Homeless Services Police New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS)Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Homeless FacilitiesSpecial Officer [16] Approx. 380
New York City Human Resources Administration Police New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA)Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Human Resources Administration FacilitiesSpecial Officer [17] Approx. 130
New York City Department of Investigation -Responsible for investigating NYC governmental corruption & fraudSpecial Patrolmen [18] Approx 35
New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Parks and propertiesSpecial Officer [19] Approx. 85
New York City Police Department School Safety Division New York City Police Department (NYPD)Responsible for the safety and security at NYC public schoolsSpecial Officer [20] Approx. 5000
New York City Department of Sanitation Environmental Police patch.jpg New York City Department of Sanitation Police New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY)Responsible for the enforcement NYC Sanitation laws and health code regulationsSpecial Patrolmen [21] Approx. 80
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Police uniform shoulder patch.jpg New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Police New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)Responsible for the enforcing of NYC taxi licensing regulations concerning livery vehiclesSpecial Patrolman [22] Approx. 205

Since 1942, correction and probation services have been handled by separate agencies, not the sheriff's office. [23]

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. [24]

State 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.

Interstate agencies

These agencies have jurisdiction in both New York and neighboring states.

List of Agencies

PatchAgencyParent AgencyFunctionTitleStatesNumber of Personnel
Patch of the NY NJ Port Authority.svg Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department Port Authority of New York and New Jersey General law enforcement concerning PANYNJPolice Officer New York and New Jersey Approx. 2200+
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department Metropolitan Transportation Authority General law enforcement concerning LIRR, MNR, and SIRR propertiesPolice officer New York and Connecticut Approx. 1,200 [28]

Other public agencies

Federal agencies

Campus Safety

PatchAgencyParent AgencyFunctionTitleNumber of Personnel
NY - State University Police.jpg New York State University Police State University of New York (SUNY)Responsible for the safety and security at SUNY campuses and facilitiesPolice Officers [29] Approx. 684
City University of New York Public Safety Dept. patch.svg City University of New York Public Safety Department City University of New York (CUNY)Responsible for the safety and security at CUNY campuses and facilitiesPublic Safety Officer [30] Approx. 715

Non government / Private Company

A number of private owned and operated communities have their own public safety. A limited number of personnel are New York state peace officers after completing a basic peace officer training course. This grants them very limited peace officer authority within their geographical area of employment in New York City.

PatchCompanyParent CompanyFunctionTitleNumber of Personnel
Bay Terrace Public Safety DepartmentCord Meyer Development LLCPublic Safety at Bay Terrace Shopping CenterPublic Safety-
Big Six Towers Public Safety Department Mitchell-Lama Cooperative Housing Company Public Safety at Big Six TowersPublic SafetyApprox 8
Co-op City Department of Public Safety RiverBay Corporation Public Safety at Co-op CitySpecial PatrolmenApprox. 100
NY - Hunts Point Public Safety.png Hunts Point Department of Public Safety Hunts Point Cooperative Market Public Safety at Hunts Point Market Special PatrolmenApprox. 20
Morningside Heights Housing Corporation Department of Public Safety Morningside Gardens Public Safety at Morningside Gardens propertyPublic Safety-
New York Racing Association Peace Officers New York Racing Association Public Safety at NYRA facilitiesSpecial PoliceApprox 15
Parkchester Department of Public Safety Parkchester Preservation ManagementPublic Safety at Parkchester propertySpecial PatrolmenApprox. 50
Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town Public Safety Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village Public Safety at Peter Cooper Village communityPublic SafetyApprox 10
Sea Gate Public Safety Department Seagate Homeowners Association Public Safety at Sea Gate private communityPublic SafetyApprox. 10
Spring Creek Towers Public Safety Department Starrett City Associates Public Safety at Spring Creek Towerspublic safetyApprox 10
  1. The Times Square Alliance has its own Public Safety Officers (PSOs) who act as the 'eyes and ears' for the local police. [31] 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. [32]

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 Office Darcel Clark The Bronx Prosecution of violations of New York state laws
Kings County District Attorney's Office Eric Gonzalez Brooklyn Prosecution of violations of New York state laws
New York County District Attorney's Office Alvin Bragg Manhattan Prosecution of violations of New York state laws
Queens County District Attorney's Office Melinda Katz Queens, New York Prosecution of violations of New York state laws
Richmond County District Attorney's Office Michael McMahon Staten Island Prosecution of violations of New York state laws
Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York Bridget G. Brennan New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens, Richmond Prosecution of violations of New York state narcotics laws
U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams New York, Bronx, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, Sullivan Prosecution of violations of U.S. federal laws
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace Kings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, Suffolk Prosecution of violations of U.S. federal laws

Disbanded agencies

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Legislation". Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Legislation". Archived from the original on April 15, 2022. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Legislation". Archived from the original on November 4, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Chapter 13: Special Patrolmen". Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  5. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 1, §1.20, ss 34(d)
  6. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 1, §1.20, ss 34(o)
  7. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 1, §1.20, ss 34(i)
  8. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 2 and ss 5
  9. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 25
  10. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 24
  11. ↑ "ACS - Special Officers". www.nyc.gov. Archived from the original on September 16, 2024. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
  12. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 82
  13. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  14. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 40
  15. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 82
  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 38
  19. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  20. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  21. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 59
  22. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 27
  23. ↑ McKinley, Jesse. "F.Y.I." Archived 2008-04-15 at the Wayback Machine , 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. "
  24. ↑ "NYC Marshals Handbook". Website of the City of New York Department of Investigation. City of New York. Archived from the original on April 26, 2014. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Investigations Division". New York State Attorney General. September 6, 2024. Archived from the original on January 5, 2024. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  26. ↑ https://cannabis.ny.gov/enforcement
  27. ↑ "Police Division". New York Waterfront Commission.
  28. ↑ "MTA Police". MTA. Archived from the original on February 18, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  29. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 1, §1.20, ss 34(s)
  30. ↑ New York State Criminal Procedure Law, Article 2, §2.10, ss 79
  31. ↑ "Public Safety Department". May 9, 2017. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Public Safety". Archived from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
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