Law enforcement in New York City


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.

Powers

Members of New York City law enforcement agencies receive their powers and authority from New York State Criminal Procedure Law as listed:Police Officers who are listed under Article 2, §1.20 section 34.Peace Officers who are listed under Article 2, §2.10. 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.

Authority

Police Officer

Police officers are listed and define under NYS Criminal Procedure Law 1.20 The authority of police officers in the state are the most broad of any State, Local or Municipal Law Enforcement in New York.

Peace Officer

Peace officers are listed and defined under criminal procedure law 2.20. The authority of peace officers are limited by sections and/or subdivisions of the criminal procedure law, New York State penal law and employer restrictions. Peace officers in New York City may also be considered special officers or special patrolman, which are more typically more restrictive with specialized roles and jurisdiction as set forth by their employer.

Special Officer

Special Officer is a civil service title designated for New York State peace officers employed by various New York City agencies. Special Officers are responsible for maintaining safety and security at facilities and properties in connection with their special duties of employment. All special officers are required to hold New York State Peace Officer status pursuant to New York State Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10. The exercise of this authority is limited to the employee's geographical area of employment, and employer restrictions. Special officer titles, although often working alongside NYPD, are completely independent of the New York City Police Department, and are therefore not required to acquire or retain NYC Special Patrolman Status. Sergeants and above are typically placed under the civil service title of Supervising Special Officer.

Special Patrolmen

Designation as a NYC special patrolmen 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, as well as privately owned and operated companies & corporations 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. 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. Special Patrolman are required to keep their status for the duration of employment and adhere with all rules promulgated by the Police Commissioner of the City of New York.

List of City Agencies

PatchAgencyParent AgencyFunctionTitleNumber of Personnel
New York City Police Department-Responsible for the Policing and investigations of all crimes in New York CityPolice OfficersApprox. 36,230
New York City Department of Environmental Protection PoliceNew York City Department of Environmental Protection Responsible for the protecting of NYC's water supply systemPolice OfficersApprox. 200
New York City Fire Department Fire MarshalsNew York City Fire Department Responsible for the Investigation of serious fires and arson within NYCPolice OfficersApprox. 150
New York City Sheriff's OfficeNew York City Department of Finance Responsible for the enforcing of civil court orders and investigate tax and deed fraud in NYCPeace OfficersApprox. 150
New York City Department of Correction-Responsible for the care and custody of inmate in NYC correctional facilitiesPeace OfficersApprox. 9500
New York City Department of Probation-Responsible for supervision people placed on probation by the NYC court system.Peace OfficersApprox 60
New York City Administration for Children's Services PoliceNew York City Administration for Children's Services Responsible for the safety and security at New York City Administration for Children's Services facilities including juvenile justice detention centersSpecial Officer
New York City Business Integrity Commission-Responsible for regulating private catering industry, public wholesale markets businesses, and the shipboard gambling industrySpecial PatrolmenApprox 60
New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services PoliceNew York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services facilities.Special OfficerApprox. 15
New York City Health + Hospitals Police DepartmentNew York City Health and Hospitals Corporation Responsible for the safety and security of NYC Health and Hospital Corporation facilitiesSpecial OfficerApprox. 1250
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene PoliceNew York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene facilities.Special OfficerApprox 10
New York City Department of Homeless Services PoliceNew York City Department of Homeless Services Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Homeless FacilitiesSpecial OfficerApprox. 380
New York City Human Resources Administration PoliceNew York City Human Resources Administration Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Human Resources Administration FacilitiesSpecial OfficerApprox. 130
New York City Department of Investigation-Responsible for investigating NYC governmental corruption & fraudSpecial PatrolmenApprox 35
New York City Parks Enforcement PatrolNew York City Department of Parks and RecreationResponsible for the safety and security at NYC Parks and propertiesSpecial PatrolmenApprox. 85
New York City Police Department School Safety DivisionNew York City Police Department Responsible for the safety and security at NYC public schoolsSpecial PatrolmenApprox. 5000
New York City Department of Sanitation PoliceNew York City Department of Sanitation Responsible for the enforcement NYC Sanitation laws and health code regulationsSpecial PatrolmenApprox. 80
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission PoliceNew York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Responsible for the enforcing of NYC taxi licensing regulations concerning livery vehiclesSpecial OfficerApprox. 205

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

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.

Other public agencies

Federal agencies

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 DepartmentMitchell-Lama Cooperative Housing CompanyPublic Safety at Big Six TowersPublic SafetyApprox 8
Co-op City Department of Public SafetyRiverBay CorporationPublic Safety at Co-op CitySpecial PatrolmenApprox. 100
Hunts Point Department of Public SafetyHunts Point Cooperative MarketPublic Safety at Hunts Point MarketSpecial PatrolmenApprox. 20
Morningside Heights Housing Corporation Department of Public SafetyMorningside GardensPublic Safety at Morningside Gardens propertyPublic Safety-
New York Racing Association Peace OfficersNew York Racing AssociationPublic Safety at NYRA facilitiesSpecial PoliceApprox 15
Parkchester Department of Public SafetyParkchester Preservation ManagementPublic Safety at Parkchester propertySpecial PatrolmenApprox. 50
Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town Public SafetyStuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper VillagePublic Safety at Peter Cooper Village communityPublic SafetyApprox 10
Sea Gate Public Safety DepartmentSeagate Homeowners AssociationPublic Safety at Sea Gate private communityPublic SafetyApprox. 10
Spring Creek Towers Public Safety DepartmentStarrett City AssociatesPublic Safety at Spring Creek Towerspublic safetyApprox 10

  1. The Times Square Alliance has its own Public Safety Officers who act as the 'eyes and ears' for the local police. 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.

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| The Bronx|Bronx County District Attorney's Office]Darcel ClarkThe BronxProsecution of violations of New York state laws
[Kings County District Attorney| Kings County, New York|Kings County District Attorney's Office]Eric GonzalezBrooklynProsecution of violations of New York state laws
New York County District Attorney's OfficeAlvin BraggManhattanProsecution of violations of New York state laws
Queens County District Attorney's OfficeMelinda KatzQueens, New YorkProsecution of violations of New York state laws
[Richmond County District Attorney| Richmond County, New York|Richmond County District Attorney's Office]Michael 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 YorkDamian WilliamsNew York, Bronx, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, SullivanProsecution of violations of U.S. federal laws
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New YorkBreon PeaceKings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, SuffolkProsecution of violations of U.S. federal laws

Disbanded agencies