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.

Federal government agencies

State 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.

Bi-state agencies

These agencies work in both New York State and New Jersey and have jurisdiction in both states.

List of Agencies

PatchForceParent departmentDutiesTitled asAmount of Personnel
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department (PAPD)Port Authority of New York and New JerseyGeneral law enforcement concerning PA areasPolice OfficerApprox. 2200+

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 as listed:

  • Police Officers who are listed under Article 2, §1.20 section 34 (A through V)[3]
  • Peace Officers who are listed under Article 2, §2.10 (1 through 85).[4]


  • There is a separate title for New York City (only) called Special Patrolman:
    • Designation as a special patrolman is unique to New York City, and is granted by the Commissioner of the NYPD [5] in connection with their special duties of employment. Such designation confers very limited NYS Peace Officer powers upon the employee, pursuant to New York State Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10 sub(27). The exercise of these powers are very limited to the employee's geographical area of employment and only while such employee is actually working.

List of Agencies

PatchForceParent departmentDutiesTypeAmount of Personnel
New York City Police Department (NYPD)-Responsible for the Policing and investigations of all crimes in New York CityPolice Officers[6]Approx. 36,230
New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police (DEP Police)New York City Department of Environmental ProtectionResponsible for the protecting of NYC's water supply systemPolice Officers[7]Approx. 200
New York City Fire Department Fire MarshalsNew York City Fire Department (FDNY)Responsible for the Investigation of serious fires and arson within NYCPolice Officers[8]Approx. 150
New York City Sheriff's Office (NYCSO)New York City Department of FinanceResponsible for the enforcing of civil court orders and investigate tax / deed fraud in NYCDeputy Sheriff[9]Approx. 150
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission PoliceNew York City Taxi and Limousine CommissionResponsible for the enforcing of NYC taxi licensing regulations concerning livery vehiclesSpecial Patrolmen[10]Approx. 205
New York City Department of Homeless Services Police (NYC DHS Police)New York City Department of Homeless ServicesResponsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Homeless FacilitiesSpecial Officer[11]Approx. 380
New York City Human Resources Administration Police Department (NYC HRA Police)New York City Human Resources AdministrationResponsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Human Resources Administration FacilitiesSpecial Officer[12]Approx. 130
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 regulationsSpecial Patrolmen[13]Approx. 80
New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol (NYC PEP)New York City Department of Parks and RecreationResponsible for the safety and security at NYC Parks and propertiesSpecial Officer[14]Approx. 85
New York City Department of Probation-Responsible for supervision people placed on probation by the NYC court system.Probation Officer[15]Approx 60
City University of New York Public Safety DeptCity University of New York (CUNY)Responsible for the safety and security at CUNY campuses and facilitiesPublic Safety Officer[16]Approx. 715
New York City Department of Correction (NYCD)-Responsible for the care and custody of inmate in NYC correctional facilitiesCorrection Officer[17]Approx. 9500
New York City Police Department School Safety DivisionNew York City Police Department (NYPD)Responsible for the safety and security at NYC public schoolsSpecial Patrolmen[18]Approx. 5000
New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Police (NYDCASP)New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services facilities.Special Officer[19]Approx. 15
New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Police (NYCDHHP)New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (NYC HHC)Responsible for the safety and security at NYC Health and Hospital facilitiesSpecial Officer[20]Approx. 1250
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Police (DOHMH Police)New York City Department of Health and Mental HygieneResponsible for the safety and security at NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene facilities.Special Officer[21]Approx 10
New York City Department of Investigation (NYC DOI)Government of New York CityResponsible for investigating NYC governmental corruption & fraudSpecial Patrolman[22]Approx 35
New York City Business Integrity Commission (BIC)New York City Business Integrity CommissionResponsible for regulating private catering industry, public wholesale markets businesses, and the shipboard gambling industrySpecial Patrolmen[23]Approx 60

Since 1942, correction and probation services have been handled by separate agencies, not the sheriff's office.[24]

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.[25]

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.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD) is the primary law enforcement agency whose mission is to provide police patrol service and investigate all crimes that occur within New York City which includes the below listed areas.

Public Safety Officers must complete the New York State POST (Peace Officer Standard of Training) to become certified.

PatchForceParent CompanyDutiesTitleAmount 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 SafetyApprox 8
Co-op City Department of Public Safety (CCPD)RiverBay CorporationPublic Safety Duties at Co-op CitySpecial PatrolmenApprox. 100
Hunts Point Department of Public Safety (HPPS)Hunts Point Cooperative MarketPublic Safety Duties at Hunts Point MarketSpecial PatrolmenApprox. 20
Morningside Heights Housing Corporation Department of Public Safety (MHHC PSD)Morningside GardensPublic Safety Duties at Morningside Gardens property.Public Safety-
New York Racing Association Peace OfficersNew York Racing AssociationPublic Safety Duties at NYRA facilities.Special PoliceApprox 15
Parkchester Police DepartmentParkchester Preservation ManagementPublic Safety Duties at Parkchester property.Special PatrolmenApprox. 50
Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (RIPSD)Roosevelt Island Operating CorporationPublic Safety Duties at Roosevelt Island and TramwayPublic SafetyApprox 40
Sea Gate Police Department (SGPD)Seagate Homeowners AssociationPublic Safety Duties at Sea Gate private communityPublic SafetyApprox. 10
Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town Public Safety (PCVST)Stuyvesant Town–Peter Cooper VillagePublic Safety Duties at peter copper village communityPublic SafetyApprox 10
Spring Creek Towers Public Safety DepartmentStarrett City AssociatesPublic Safety Duties at Spring Creek Towers.public safetyApprox 10
  1. The Times Square Alliance has its own Public Safety Officers (PSOs) who act as the 'eyes and ears' for the local police.[26] 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.[27]

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 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'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 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

See also

References