Abbreviation CUNY DPS | Formed 1992 | |
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Common name City University of New York Public Safety Motto "Service - Integrity - Pride"
"Protecting and Serving the University Community" Legal personality Governmental: Government agency Operations jurisdiction* City of New York in the state of New York, USA | ||
The City University of New York Public Safety Department (CUNY Public Safety) is a Public Safety agency in New York City. The department is tasked with protecting campuses owned by the City University of New York (CUNY) and to enforce state and city laws with in those campus grounds only 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The CUNY Public Safety Department serves and protects more than 516,000 students, 35,000 faculty members and other employees, along with 300-plus buildings, throughout the five boroughs of the City of New York.
Contents
History
In 1990 under the order of then University Chancellor, W. Ann Reynolds, the CUNY Public Safety Department was formed after CUNY found a need to provide public safety services for its own community. The Public Safety Department at each of the CUNY campuses is headed by Directors. These Directors eventually were designated as Chiefs. The first officers to be brought on were sergeants retired from New York City Police Department. These officers laid the groundwork for a department that would grow to 600 members strong. In 1991 the first patrol officers were added to the ranks. These new patrol officers and their sergeants were designated as Special Patrolmen and were sworn in by the New York City Police Commissioner. After a few years, the officers received recognition by the State of New York as Peace Officers. In time the ranks of Corporal, Lieutenant and Specialist were introduced.
Reporting directly to the Director of their respective command, there are three types of Specialist: Crime Prevention/Investigations, Electronics Service, and Fire Safety. In recent years, the rank of Deputy Chief and Director has been added to the rank structure.
As of September 2011, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, has officially employed CUNY Public Safety Sergeants, phasing out the student-employed Public Safety Field Supervisor position. The student position of Public Safety Officer was phased out in January 2013.
Ranks
There are eight titles (referred to as ranks) in the City University of New York Public Safety Department:
Incidents
Operations
Depending on location and training, officers can be selected for specialized units that allow the agency to better serve the community. Some of these units include:
Uniformed Patrol: Officers patrol on foot, on bicycles, segways, in marked and unmarked patrol cars. These patrols are on campus and in neighborhoods which the university is located in.
Bike Patrol:- The patrol unit is part of the Uniformed Patrol. Officers are required to complete a 5-day intensive course to qualify in pursuit bicycle handling, bicycle safety, patrol techniques, and maintenance.
Emergency Medical Services: There are many officers throughout that are Emergency Medical Technicians. Though ordinary trained as peace officers, these officers are NYS certified Emergency Medical Technicians. Many members of the department are volunteers. CUNY has not yet obtained an Operating Certificate to be recognized by NYSDOH, NYCREMSCO & FDNY to operate as an EMS provider.
Canine Unit: Currently there is only one member of the unit. Over the years, there have been five German shepherds in the CUNY Canine unit. The K-9 officers go through 17 weeks of training provided by the Yonkers Police Department and they receive Certification from the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services. After the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11, the CUNY K-9 Unit dispatched four dogs to assist during the response, whose dogs were suffering from burned paws and smoke inhalation. Currently, there is only one member of the unit. In 1992, the unit won a national competition for best canine unit. They outperformed units from various agencies including, the New York City, Suffolk County and Nassau County Police Departments.
Civil Disturbance Response Unit (SAFE Team): The CUNY Public Safety Department has a team of officers who are responsible for a multitude of emergency services throughout CUNY in New york city to include, but not limited to: major emergencies, large demonstrations, building takeovers, large social functions, and other events deemed to need public safety services.
Emergency Management: During times of extreme emergencies, CUNY Public Safety operates 10 evacuation centers throughout New York City. CUNY is part of the NYC Coastal Storm Plan Emergency Sheltering System. These centers were opened during the extreme snow storms of 2010 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. During Hurricane Sandy, Currently many officers have training through Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and other FEMA programs. When these emergencies are in effect, In addition, CUNY Public Safety has many officers that are Fire Safety Directors. Fire Safety Director are responsible for implementing the building's fire prevention and safety plans. Their duties are various. They must maintains records and performs inspections as required by New York City law. Also, they must conduct, supervise and evaluate all fire drills.
Public Safety Academy: The Public Safety Academy is a regional training facility that trains many different agencies from around the Greater New York City area. Some of these agencies are, but limited to, New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Special Officers, New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission Enforcement, Brooklyn Public Library, New York State Liquor Authority, New York City Administration of Children Services, New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, New York City Department of Health and Hygiene, New York State Office of the Inspector General, New York State Unified Court System, New York State Department of Finance . The academy is responsible for the initial 13 week CUNY Campus Public Safety Officers Course, annual training and additional training on law enforcement issues and topics. Each year the academy trains over 2,500 officers in over 100 topics mandated by the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services. All instructors are New York State certified.
Future of operations and units
The restructuring of the S.A.F.E Team to be more reflective of other emergency response units throughout the New York City area is also under consideration. Also, individual colleges are developing crime prevention, domestic violence and investigations programs to provide more services to the university.
Equipment
Most CUNY Officers do not normally carry firearms while on campus but are equipped with an expandable baton, pepper spray, handcuffs, flashlight, bulletproof vest, and a portable two-way radio. Officers at times carry firearms and receive law enforcement firearms training. The individual college President sets the policy on his or her campus regarding the carrying of firearms while on duty.
Power and authority
Under New York state law, peace officers—including those employed by the City University of New York Public Safety Department—have the power to make arrests for misdemeanors and violations committed in their presence as well as for felonies committed in their presence or not (provided they have the requisite probable cause). They may also enforce other statutes such as local bylaws. These powers are limited to the "geographic area" (Cuny campus only) in which the peace officers are employed.