New York City Police Department
The City of New York Police Department, also known as the New York City Police Department, is the primary law enforcement agency within New York City. Established on May 23, 1845, the NYPD is the largest, and one of the oldest, municipal police departments in the United States.
The NYPD is headquartered at 1 Police Plaza, located on Park Row in Lower Manhattan near City Hall. The NYPD's regulations are compiled in title 38 of the New York City Rules. Dedicated units of the NYPD include the Emergency Service Unit, K-9, harbor patrol, highway patrol, air support, bomb squad, counterterrorism, criminal intelligence, anti-organized crime, narcotics, mounted patrol, public transportation, and public housing units. Unlike in other towns and cities, it is not the fire department but the NYPD that has responsibility for emergency water rescue.
The NYPD employs more than 40,000 people, including more than 30,000 uniformed officers as of September 2023. According to the official CompStat database, the NYPD responded to nearly 500,000 reports of crime and made more than 200,000 arrests during 2019. In 2020, it had a budget of. However, the NYPD's actual spending often exceeds its budget.
The NYPD's history has been colored by police brutality, corruption, and misconduct, which critics argue persists till the present day. Due to its high-profile location in New York City, the largest city and media center in the U.S., fictionalized versions of the NYPD and its officers have frequently been portrayed in novels, radio, television, motion pictures, and video games.File:NYPD Police officer.jpg|300px|thumb|NYPD Police officer in uniform at the US Women's Soccer Team ticker-tape parade in 2019
History
The Municipal Police were established in 1845, replacing an old night watch system. Mayor William Havemeyer shepherded the NYPD together. The NYPD appointed its first Black officer in 1911 and the first female officer in 1918.During Richard Enright's tenure as commissioner, the country's first Shomrim Society, a fraternal organization of Jewish police officers, was founded in the NYPD in 1924. At the time, the NYPD had 700 Jewish officers on the force.
In 1961, highly decorated NYPD officer Mario Biaggi, later a US Congressman, became the first police officer in New York State to be made a member of the National Police Officers Hall of Fame. In the mid-1980s, the NYPD began to police street-level drug markets much more intensively, leading to a sharp increase in incarceration.
In 1992, Mayor David Dinkins created an independent Civilian Complaint Review Board for the NYPD. In response to this, some NYPD officers violently protested and rioted. They blocked traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge, demonstrated at City Hall and shouted racial epithets. The protests were sponsored by the NYPD union.
In 1994, the NYPD developed the CompStat computer system for tracking crime geographically, which is now in use by other police departments in the United States and Canada. Research is mixed on whether CompStat had an impact on crime rates. Throughout the mid to late 1990s, several mergers took place which changed the landscape of policing in New York City. The New York City Transit Police and the New York City Housing Authority Police Department merged into the NYPD in 1995, becoming the Transit Bureau and Housing Bureau respectively. In 1996, the New York City Department of Transportation's Traffic Operations Bureau was merged into the NYPD, becoming the Transportation Bureau. In 1998, the New York City Department of Education's School Safety Division became part of the NYPD's Community Affairs Bureau.
In 2021, the NYPD ceased enforcement of marijuana crimes other than driving under the influence.
In 2024, the NYPD changed its motto from "Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect" to "Fighting Crime, Protecting the Public".
Organization and structure
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, they serve at the mayor's pleasure. The commissioner in turn appoints the first deputy commissioner, numerous deputy commissioners, and the chief of department. By default, the commissioner and their subordinate deputies are civilians under an oath of office and are not sworn officers. However, a commissioner who comes up from the sworn ranks retains the status and statutory powers of a police officer while serving as commissioner. This affects their police pensions, and their ability to carry a firearm without a pistol permit. Some police commissioners carry a personal firearm but also have a full-time security detail. Commissioners and deputy commissioners are administrators who specialize in areas of great importance to the Department, such as counterterrorism, support services, public information, legal matters, intelligence, and information technology. However, as civilian administrators, deputy commissioners are prohibited from taking operational control of a police situation. 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.Office of the Chief of Department
The chief of department serves as the senior sworn member of the NYPD which before 1987 was known as the chief of operations and before that as chief inspector. Michael LiPetri currently serves as interim chief of department.Previous chiefs of department
- John Timoney, 1994–1995
- Louis R. Anemone, 1995–1999
- Joseph Dunne, 1999–2000
- Joseph Esposito, 2000–2013
- Philip Banks, 2013–2014
- James O'Neill, 2014–2016
- Carlos M. Gomez, 2016–2017
- Terrence Monahan, 2018–2021
- Rodney Harrison, 2021
- Kenneth Corey, 2022
- Jeffrey Maddrey, 2022–2024
- John Chell, 2025
- Michael LiPetri, 2025–present
Chief of department's Crime Control Strategies Bureau chiefs
- Jack Maple, First person to be created Deputy Commissioner of Operations and Crime Control Strategies, worked under Anemone and Timoney
- Edward Norris, Deputy Commissioner
- Garry McCarthy, Deputy Commissioner
- Phil Pulaski, Deputy Commissioner
- Patrick Timlin, Deputy Commissioner
- John Bilich, Deputy Commissioner
- Dermot Shea, Deputy Commissioner and Chief of Crime Control Strategies
- Lori Pollack, Chief of Crime Control Strategies
- Michael LiPetri, Chief of Crime Control Strategies
Bureaus
| Bureau | Commanding officer | Description | Subdivisions |
| Patrol Services Bureau | Chief of Patrol | The Patrol Services Bureau oversees most of the NYPD's uniformed patrol officers. This is the largest bureau. It is under the command of the Chief of Patrol. | There are eight borough commands, with each command headed by an assistant chief. These are further divided into 78 police precincts, which are commanded by a captain, deputy inspector, or inspector; depending on size. |
| Special Operations Bureau | Chief of Special Operations | The Special Operations Bureau Manages NYPD responses to major events and incidents that require specifically trained and equipped personnel. It is under the command of the Chief of Special Operations. | The Special Operations Bureau is responsible for the Emergency Service Unit, Aviation Unit, Harbor Unit, Mounted Unit, Strategic Response Group, Crisis Outreach and Support Unit. |
| Transit Bureau | Chief of Transit | The Transit Bureau Oversees NYPD transit officers in the New York City Subway. It is under the command of the Chief of Transit. | This Bureau is responsible for 12 transit districts, each located within or adjacent to the subway system, and overseen by three borough commands: Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx/Queens. Specialized units within the Transit Bureau include 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 Oversees law enforcement within New York City public housing. It is under the command of the Chief of Housing. | There are nine police service areas, each covering a collection of housing developments. |
| Transportation Bureau | Chief of Transportation | The Transportation Bureau Manages highway patrol and traffic management in New York City. It is under the command of the Chief of Transportation. | Traffic Management Center, Highway District, Traffic Operations District, Traffic Enforcement District |
| Counterterrorism Bureau | Deputy Chief of Counterterrorism | The Counterterrorism Bureau counters, investigates, analyzes, and prevents terrorism in New York City. It is under the command of the Deputy Chief of Counterterrorism, who is subordinate to the Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism. | Critical Response Command, Counterterrorism Division, Terrorism Threat Analysis Group, Lower Manhattan Security Initiative, World Trade Center Command |
| Crime Control Strategies Bureau | Chief of Crime Control Strategies | The Crime Control Strategies Bureau oversees the analysis and monitoring of trends across New York City, develops strategies targeted to reduce crime, and applies strategies to the NYPD. It is under the command of the Chief of Crime Control Strategies | CompStat Unit, Crime Analysis Unit |
| Detective Bureau | Chief of Detectives | The Detectives Bureau oversees NYPD detectives. The Detectives are in charge of preventing, detecting, and investigating crime in New York City. It is under the command of the Chief of Detectives. | 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, Vice Enforcement Division |
| Intelligence Bureau | Assistant Chief of Intelligence | The Intelligence Bureau oversees the collection and analysis of data to detect and disrupt criminal and terrorist activity in New York City. It is under the command of the Assistant Chief of Intelligence, who is subordinate to the Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counterterrorism. | Intelligence Operations and Analysis Section, Criminal Intelligence Section |
| Internal Affairs Bureau | Chief of Internal Affairs | The Internal Affairs Bureau investigates police misconduct within the NYPD. It is under the command of the Chief of Internal Affairs. | N/A |
| Employee Relations | Deputy Commissioner of Employee Relations | Employee Relations oversees the fraternal, religious, and line organizations of the NYPD, as well as ceremonial customs. It is under the command of the Deputy Commissioner of Employee Relations. | Employee Relations Section, Chaplains Unit, Ceremonial Unit, Sports Unit |
| Operations | Deputy Commissioner of Operations | The Operations Bureau oversees the Operations Division and the NYPD Joint Operations Center which monitors all police-related incidents citywide. They coordinate combined-operations with various City, State, and Federal agencies to during large-scale or catastrophic events. They plan exercises with inter-agency partners to assess responses to potential threats like terror attacks, active shooter situations, and natural disasters. It is under the command of the Deputy Commissioner of Operations. | Operations Division, NYPD Joint Operations Center |
| Community Affairs Bureau | Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs | The Community Affairs Bureau works with community leaders, civic organizations, block associations, and the public to educate on police policies and practices; it is also responsible for NYPD officers in schools and investigates juvenile delinquency. It is under the command of the Deputy Commissioner of Community Affairs. | Community Outreach Division, Crime Prevention Division, Juvenile Justice Division, School Safety Division |
| Information Technology Bureau | Chief of Information Technology | The Information Technology Bureau oversees the maintenance, research, development, and implementation of technology to support strategies, programs, and procedures within the NYPD. It is under the command of the Chief of Information Technology. | Administration, Fiscal Affairs, Strategic Technology, IT Services Division, Life-Safety Systems, Communications Division |
| Legal Matters | Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters | The Legal Matters Bureau assists NYPD personnel regarding department legal matters; controversially, it has a memorandum of understanding with the Manhattan District Attorney to selectively prosecute New York City Criminal Court summons and court cases. It is under the command of the Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters. | Civil Enforcement Unit, Criminal Section, Civil Section, Legislative Affairs Unit, Document Production/FOIL, Police Action Litigation Section |
| Personnel | Chief of Personnel | The Personnel Bureau oversees the recruitment and selection of personnel, as well as managing the human resource functions of the NYPD. It is under the command of the Chief of Personnel. | Candidate Assessment Division, Career Enhancement Division, Employee Management Division, Personnel Orders Section, Staff Services Section |
| Public Information | Deputy Commissioner of Public Information | Public Information works with media organizations to provide information to the public. It is under the command of the Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. | Digital Communications Section, Public Information Section |
| Professional Standards | Chief of Professional Standards | Professional Standards oversees the performance of police officers and identifies officers who may require enhanced training or supervision. It is under the command of the Chief of Professional Standards. | Enterprise Risk Management Section, Enterprise Risk Management Civilian Complaint Stat Unit, Enterprise Risk Management Early Intervention Unit |
| Strategic Initiatives | Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives | Strategic Initiatives oversees data analysis, department policies, strategic development and the publishing of the department manual which is composed of the Patrol, Administrative, Organization, and Detective Guides. It is under the command of the Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives. | Office of Management Analysis and Planning, Management Orders and Directives Section, Management Analysis Section, Office of Research and Evaluation, Project Management Office |
| Training | Chief of Training | The Training Bureau oversees the training of recruits, officers, staff, and civilians. It is under the command of the Chief of Training. | 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, Citizens Police Academy |