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.
Contents
- Federal government agencies
- State government agencies
- Government departments
- City government agencies
- Private agencies
- References
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
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.
Government departments
City government agencies
Members of city law enforcement agencies receive their powers and privileges from the state Criminal Procedure Law in one of three ways:
Designation as a special patrolman is unique to New York City, and is given 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. This designation provides special patrolmen the same powers and privileges as peace officers while on-duty only, with five exceptions retaining their authority off-duty as well - school safety officers, parking control specialists, taxi and limousine inspectors, urban park rangers and evidence and property control specialists.
Since 1942, correction and probation services have been handled by separate agencies, not the sheriff's office, as opposed to the common U.S. practice of these municipal-level services being carried out by sheriffs.
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.
Private agencies
Uniquely, for the United States, a number of private companies operate their own public safety departments. Their members are either peace officers or special patrolmen and have Peace Officers powers in New York state: