Law enforcement in New York City


Law enforcement in New York City is carried out by numerous law enforcement agencies. New York City has the highest concentration of law enforcement agencies in the United States.
As with the rest of the US, agencies operate at federal and state levels. However, New York City's unique nature means many more operate at lower levels.

Federal government 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.

Government departments

City government agencies

Powers and Authority

Members of New York city law enforcement agencies receive their powers and authority from New York State Criminal Procedure Law in one of two ways:
Designation as a special patrolman is unique to New York City, and is granted by the Commissioner of the NYPD under section 14-106 of the New York City Administrative Code in conjunction with the New York State Criminal Procedure Law Article 2 Section 2.10 Sub 27, and are governed by protocols of Chapter 11 Title 38 of the Rules of the City of New York. This designation provides private sector Public Safety officers limited authority as peace officers while on-duty only.
Privatized Public Safety Officers must complete the New York State POST to become certified.

List of Agencies

There are at least sixteen City law enforcement agencies and these are listed in the table below.
PatchForceParent departmentDutiesTitled asAmount of Personnel
New York City Police Department -General law enforcement concerning New York Citypolice officersApprox. 36,230
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police New York City Department of Environmental ProtectionGeneral law enforcement at areas of New York City's water supply systempolice officersApprox. 200
New York City Fire Department Fire MarshalsNew York City Fire Department The investigation of fires and arson within New York Citypolice officersApprox. 150
New York City Sheriff's OfficeNew York City Department of FinancePrimarily civil law enforcement and the investigation New York City tax and deed fraudSheriff officersApprox. 150
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Enforcement New York City Taxi and Limousine CommissionThe enforcement of New York City taxi licensing regulations and traffic laws concerning livery vehiclesTLC inspectorsApprox. 205
New York City Department of Homeless Services Police New York City Department of Homeless ServicesGeneral law enforcement at NYC-DHS facilitiesspecial officerApprox. 380
New York City Human Resources Administration Police Department New York City Human Resources AdministrationGeneral law enforcement in NYC Human Resources Administration facilitiesspecial officerApprox. 130
New York City Department of Sanitation Police New York City Department of Sanitation Primarily the enforcement of city sanitation laws and health code regulationsNYC special patrolmenApprox. 80
New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol New York City Department of Parks and RecreationGeneral law enforcement at NYC Parks Dept.propertiesspecial patrolmenApprox. 85
New York City Department of Probation-Provides supervision for people placed on probation in the Supreme, Criminal, and Family courts.probation officers
City University of New York Public Safety DepartmentCity University of New York General law enforcement at CUNY campuses and facilitiespublic safety officersApprox. 715
New York City Department of Investigation -The investigation of city governmental corruption & fraudSpecial Investigators
New York City Department of Correction -Primarily general law enforcement within and concerning city correctional facilitiescorrection officersApprox. 9500
New York City Police Department School Safety DivisionNew York City Police Department General law enforcement at NYC public schoolsspecial patrolmenApprox. 5000
New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services PoliceNew York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services General law enforcement at all NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services facilities.special officerApprox. 15
New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Police New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation Security and law enforcement at NYC HHC facilitiesspecial officerApprox. 1250
New York City Business Integrity Commission New York City Business Integrity Commissionregulate the private catering industry, public wholesale markets businesses, and the shipboard gambling industryNYC special patrolmenover 60 employees

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.

Public Safety Officers

Some areas of New York City have "Public Safety Officers", which are neither totally private or city government.
  1. The Times Square Alliance has its own Public Safety Officers who act as the 'eyes and ears' for 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.

    Private agencies

Unique to New York City, a number of private communities and/or entities operate their own public safety agencies, they are New York State Peace Officers with limited authority in New York city).
PatchForceParent departmentDutiesTitleAmount of Personnel
Bay Terrace Public Safety DepartmentCord Meyer Development LLC - Bay Terrace Shopping CentrePublic Safety at Bay TerracePublic Safety-
Big Six Towers Public Safety DepartmentMitchell-Lama cooperative housing companyPublic Safety duties at Big Six TowersPublic Safety8
Co-op City Department of Public Safety Co-op CityPrimarily public safety of residents and visitors in Co-op Cityspecial patrolmenApprox. 100+
Hunts Point Department of Public Safety Hunts Point Cooperative MarketPublic Safety at Hunts Point Cooperative Market, protect the people and property of the market, including facilities, storefronts, railwaysspecial patrolmenApprox. 20
Morningside Heights Housing Corporation Department of Public Safety Morningside GardensEnsure the security of all Morningside Gardens residents as well as the protection of Corporation property.Public Safety-
New York Racing Association Peace OfficersNew York Racing Associationresponsible for enforcing NYS laws as well as NYRA rules and regulations both on and around NYRA facilities per NYS lawspecial police officers-
Parkchester Department of Public Safety Parkchester, BronxPublic safety of residents and visitors, and commercial buildings in ParkchesterPublic SafetyApprox. 65
Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Roosevelt Island Operating CorporationPublic safety duties at Roosevelt Island, and the Manhattan and Roosevelt Islands stations of the Roosevelt Island TramwayPublic Safety40
Sea Gate Police Department Seagate Home AssociationSGPD protect property, citizens and enforce state and city laws inside the community of Sea Gate, Brooklynpublic safety officersApprox. 10
Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town Public Safety Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper VillagePCVST PSD protect property, citizens and enforce state and city laws inside the communitypublic safety officersn/a
Starrett City Department of Public SafetyStarrett CityPublic Safety of residents and property of Spring Creek Towers.public safety officers- 10

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 OfficeDarcel ClarkThe BronxProsecution of violations of New York state laws
Kings County District Attorney's OfficeEric GonzalezBrooklynProsecution of violations of New York state laws
New York County District Attorney's OfficeCyrus Vance Jr.ManhattanProsecution of violations of New York state laws
Queens County District Attorney's OfficeJohn M. RyanQueens, New YorkProsecution of violations of New York state laws
Richmond County District Attorney's OfficeMichael 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 YorkGeoffrey BermanNew York, Bronx, Westchester, Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, SullivanProsecution of violations of U.S. federal laws
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New YorkRichard P. DonoghueKings, Queens, Richmond, Nassau, SuffolkProsecution of violations of U.S. federal laws

Disbanded agencies