# 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 and authority

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 (A through V)
* Peace Officers who are listed under Article 2, §2.10 (1 through 85)..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 The designation as a NYC special patrolmen AKA [special officer] is unique to New York City. It is granted by the Police Commissioner of New York City Police Department NYPD to certain New York City agencies as well as privately owned and operated companies 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

| Force | Parent department | Duties | Type | Number of Personnel |
| New York City Police Department (NYPD) | - | Responsible for the Policing and investigations of all crimes in New York City | Police Officers | Approx. 36,230 |
| New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police (DEP Police) | New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) | Responsible for the protecting of NYC's water supply system | Police Officers | Approx. 200 |
| New York City Fire Department Fire Marshals | New York City Fire Department (FDNY) | Responsible for the Investigation of serious fires and arson within NYC | Police Officers | 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 / deed fraud in NYC | Peace Officers | Approx. 150 |
| New York City Department of Correction (NYC DOC) | - | Responsible for the care and custody of inmate in NYC correctional facilities | Peace Officers | Approx. 9500 |
| New York City Department of Probation | - | Responsible for supervision people placed on probation by the NYC court system. | Peace Officers | 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 | Special Patrolmen | |
| New York City Business Integrity Commission (BIC) | - | Responsible for regulating private catering industry, public wholesale markets businesses, and the shipboard gambling industry | Special Patrolmen | Approx 60 |
| 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 Patrolmen | Approx. 15 |
| New York City Health & Hospitals Police (NYHP) | New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) | Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Health and Hospital facilities | Special Patrolmen | 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 Patrolmen | 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 Facilities | Special Patrolmen | 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 Facilities | Special Patrolmen | Approx. 130 |
| New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) | - | Responsible for investigating NYC governmental corruption & fraud | Special Patrolmen | Approx 35 |
| New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol (NYC PEP) | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation | Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Parks and properties | Special Patrolmen | Approx. 85 |
| New York City Police Department School Safety Division (SSD) | New York City Police Department (NYPD) | Responsible for the safety and security at NYC public schools | Special Patrolmen | Approx. 5000 |
| New York City Department of Sanitation Police (DSNY Police) | New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) | Responsible for the enforcement NYC Sanitation laws and health code regulations | Special Patrolmen | Approx. 80 |
| 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 vehicles | Special Patrolmen | Approx. 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.
* New York State Office of the Attorney General
** Criminal Justice Division - Investigations
* New York State Police
* New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
** Correction Officers and Parole Officers
* New York State Court Officers
* New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
** New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police
** New York State Forest Rangers
* New York State Park Police
* New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs
* New York State Department of Motor Vehicles
** Division of Field Investigation
* New York State Office of Children and Family Services
** Bureau of Juvenile Detention Services
* New York State Office of Mental Health Police
* New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities Police
* New York State Office of Tax Enforcement
* New York Waterfront Commission Police

## Interstate agencies

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

### List of Agencies

| Patch | Force | Parent department | Duties | Titled as | States | Number of Personnel |
| | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD) | Port Authority of New York and New Jersey | General law enforcement concerning PANYNJ | Police Officer | New York and New Jersey | Approx. 2200+ |
| | Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department (MTAPD) | Metropolitan Transportation Authority | General law enforcement concerning LIRR, MNR, and SIRR properties | Police officer | New York and Connecticut | Approx. 1,200 |

## Other public agencies

* Brooklyn Public Library Department of Public Safety
* MTA Bridge and Tunnel Officers
* Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (Public safety duties at Roosevelt Island and Tramway)

## Federal agencies

* Administrative Office of the United States Courts
** Probation and Pretrial Services System
* Amtrak Police Department
* United States Department of Agriculture
** Forest Service Law Enforcement & Investigations
* United States Department of Defense
** Army Civilian Police
** Army Criminal Investigation Command
** Army Military Police Corps
** Air Force Office of Special Investigations
** Air Force Police
** Naval Criminal Investigative Service
** Navy Police
* United States Department of Homeland Security
** Coast Guard
** Customs and Border Protection (Border Patrol and Office of Field Ops)
** Federal Air Marshal Service
** Federal Protective Service
** Immigration and Customs Enforcement
*** Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)
*** Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
** Secret Service
** Transportation Security Administration
* United States Department of the Interior
** Fish and Wildlife Office of Law Enforcement
** National Park Service Law Enforcement Rangers
** United States Park Police
* United States Department of Justice
** Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
** Drug Enforcement Administration
** Federal Bureau of Investigation
*** FBI Police
** Federal Bureau of Prisons
** United States Marshals Service
* United States Department of State
** Diplomatic Security Service
* United States Department of the Treasury
** Federal Reserve Police
** IRS Criminal Investigation Division
** United States Mint Police
* United States Department of Veterans Affairs Police
* United States Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division
* United States Postal Inspection Service
* Smithsonian Police (for the George Gustav Heye Center and the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum)

## Campus Safety

| Patch | Force | Parent Agency | Duties | Title | Number of Personnel |
| | New York State University Police | State University of New York (SUNY) | Responsible for the safety and security at SUNY campuses and facilities | Police Officers | Approx. 684 |
| | City University of New York Public Safety Dept | City University of New York (CUNY) | Responsible for the safety and security at CUNY campuses and facilities | Public Safety Officer | Approx. 715 |

## Private communities

A number of private communities have their own public safety departments. A limited number of personnel are New York State peace officers after completing the New York State Peace Officer Standard of Training (POST) course. This grants them very limited peace officer authority within their geographical area of employment in New York City.
| Force | Parent Company | Duties | Title | Number of Personnel |
| Bay Terrace Public Safety Department | Cord Meyer Development LLC - Bay Terrace Shopping Centre | Public Safety at Bay Terrace | Public Safety | - |
| Big Six Towers Public Safety Department | Mitchell-Lama Cooperative Housing Company | Public Safety duties at Big Six Towers | Public Safety | Approx 8 |
| Co-op City Department of Public Safety (CCPD) | RiverBay Corporation | Public Safety Duties at Co-op City | Special Patrolmen | Approx. 100 |
| Hunts Point Department of Public Safety (HPPS) | Hunts Point Cooperative Market | Public Safety Duties at Hunts Point Market | Special Patrolmen | Approx. 20 |
| Morningside Heights Housing Corporation Department of Public Safety (MHHC PSD) | Morningside Gardens | Public Safety Duties at Morningside Gardens property. | Public Safety | - |
| New York Racing Association Peace Officers | New York Racing Association | Public Safety Duties at NYRA facilities. | Special Police | Approx 15 |
| Parkchester Department of Public Safety | Parkchester Preservation Management | Public Safety Duties at Parkchester property. | Special Patrolmen | Approx. 50 |
| Sea Gate Public Safety Department (SGPD) | Seagate Homeowners Association | Public Safety Duties at Sea Gate private community | Public Safety | Approx. 10 |
| Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town Public Safety (PCVST) | Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper Village | Public Safety Duties at peter copper village community | Public Safety | Approx 10 |
| Spring Creek Towers Public Safety Department | Starrett City Associates | Public Safety Duties at Spring Creek Towers. | public safety | Approx 10 |
* The Times Square Alliance has its own Public Safety Officers (PSOs) who act as the 'eyes and ears' for the local police. They are unarmed and their motto is: New York's Most Helpful.
* 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.
| Office | Office holder | Jurisdiction | Duties |
| 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

* Central Park Police
* ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement Division
* New York City Park Police
* New York Cross Harbor Railroad Police
* New York City Telegraph Bureau
* Defunct Agencies from the Bronx
** Bronx County Safety Patrol
** Kingsbridge Town Police Department
** Town of Morrisania Police Department
** West Farms Town Police Department
* Defunct Agencies from Brooklyn
** Brooklyn Police Department
** Brooklyn Bridge Police
** Brooklyn Town Police Department
** Bushwick Town Police Department
** Flatbush Town Police Department
** Flatlands Town Police Department
** New Utrecht Town Police Department
* Defunct Agencies from Queens
** Flushing Town Police Department
** Long Island City Police Department
** Jamaica Town Police Department
* Merged into the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police
** Long Island Rail Road Police Department
** Metro-North Railroad Police Department
** Staten Island Rapid Transit Authority Police Department
* Merged into the New York City Police Department:
** New York City Housing Authority Police Department
** New York City Board of Education Division of School Safety (See New York City Police Department School Safety Division)
** New York City Transit Authority Police Department
* Merged into the New York City Sheriff's Office
** Bronx County Sheriff's Office
** Kings County Sheriff's Office
** New York County Sheriff's Office
** Queens County Sheriff's Office
** Richmond County Sheriff's Office
* New York City Bureau of Water Supply Police (Succeeded by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police)
* Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor Police (interstate compact between New York and New Jersey that was disbanded in 2023. Succeeded by the New York Waterfront Commission Police at NYC ports and NJ State Police at New Jersey ports)