New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police, also known as DEP Police, and formerly known as the Bureau of Water Supply Police and the Aqueduct Police, is a law enforcement agency in New York City whose duties are to protect and preserve the New York City water supply system, the nation's largest single source water supply. The department has protected and preserved the water supply system for over 100 years.
History
The Bureau of Water Supply Police was created through legislation enacted in the 1906 Water Supply Act. It was not until 1907 that the first provisional appointees were hired and assigned. On July 9, 1908, the first permanent police officers were appointed and assigned to the precincts in Peekskill, Garrison, Browns Station, and High Falls. The Bureau of Water Supply Police was the first police agency in upstate New York with a multiple county police jurisdiction.In 1908, Rhinelander Waldo was appointed as Chief of the Board of the Aqueduct Police. At this time, there were approximately 60 men assigned to the force. After a few months of service, Rhinelander was appointed Fire Commissioner of the City of New York. He was succeeded by Captain Douglas I. McKay.
Captain McKay selected a number of qualified individuals from the civil service list with the intention of making them Aqueduct Police Sergeants. He created stringent requirements, including that all members must be qualified horseman, and have experience as an officer or non-commissioned officer in the United States Army or the National Guard. Approximately two hundred men passed these rigid qualifications and were appointed as sergeants.
At this time, the newly formed Aqueduct Police, a force of 350 officers were tasked with ensuring order in the unruly construction site work camps. The first Board of Water Supply Police Precinct was built in Spout Brook, approximately two miles from Peekskill, New York. Other Precincts were built shortly after, each being manned by five sergeants and thirty officers and horses. During World War One, American involvement in the war brought the historic DEP Police to duties protecting the NYC water supply. As of the current today 2019, the DEP Police today still has the same mission guarding the water supply, and is a participant of the annual First Provisional Regiment memorial services, held at the Village of Sleepy Hollow, NY. This Aqueduct Defense Memorial Service honors and remembers 40 soldiers who died while serving New York State during World War I. DEP Police provides an honor guard, cooperates with the NY state defense force, and local government officials to remember those perished while on aqueduct duties.
In 1983, the Bureau of Water Supply became the Department of Environmental Protection and the New York State Legislature revised the Criminal Procedure Law, part of the New York State Laws, to include DEP police officers. In 1999, the DEP jurisdiction was extended to include the five boroughs of New York City. In 2004, the highest court in the state, the New York State Court of Appeals, affirmed the DEP Police Department's jurisdiction throughout the watershed. Members of the DEP Police are New York City police officers. The term Environmental Protection Police does not include NYC Environmental Police Officers that are assigned to the NYC Sanitation Department. These Officers are similar to Sanitation Peace Officers.
Today
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection Police investigate over 4000 complaints per year, 500 of these related to environmental crimes. Environmental crimes include storm water complaints, water pollution and the illegal transportation, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. Additionally they investigate waste water treatment plant and septic system failures as well as dumping complaints. The DEP department maintains jurisdiction in 14 counties including the 5 counties in New York City. The department has a full-time Aviation Unit, ESU Team, Marine Patrol, UTV Patrol, K-9 Patrol, and Detective BureauRank structure
There are seven titles in the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police:| Title | Insignia | Uniform shirt color |
| Chief | ||
| Deputy Chief | ||
| Captain | ||
| Lieutenant | ||
| Sergeant Sergeant | ||
| Detective Environmental Police Officer |
Departmental issues
Salary
Update 07/01/16: A new contract has been agreed upon bringing the starting salary up into the lower end of 40k and progressing up to the lower end of 70k after 5 years before counting in the uniform allowance, vacation time, and longevity at 5,10, and 15 years.The salary for DEP Police officer is $41,900 for the first 26 weeks while in training and after a month recruits receive a $1,000 uniform allowance for the year. After the completion of training it jumps to $48,000. The salary rises up to $49,645 after one year and a half, and reaches the top salary of $66,218 after 6 years. Arbitration was won by the union for these officers and is pending ratification. Also, the city has changed the length of time to reach top from 6 years to 6 1/2 years. After 9 years without a contract, an agreement covering 2005–2007 provides raises of 5%, 4% & 4%, and other increases, resulting in an estimated $50,000 back pay per officer.
Line of Duty Injury Benefits
As of early 2014 when the NYC Mayoral race was completed, the incoming Mayor de Blasio and his administration approved a MoA precontract approving 18 month line-of-duty benefits for its Officers.In March 2009, DEP officer Eric Hoffman was injured when he crashed his all-terrain vehicle while chasing after trespassers and did not have line of duty injury benefits.
On April 20, 2009, DEP Police officers and their union president rallied outside New York City Hall for line of duty injury benefits.
The new contract covering 2005–2007 makes DEP officers eligible for LOD injury benefits.