New York City Police Department

"NYPD" and "New York City Cops" redirect here. For other uses, see NYPD (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with New York City Sheriff's Office or New York State Police.

City of New York Police Department
Common name	New York City Police Department
Abbreviation	NYPD
220x140px The New York City Police Department's emblem
220x140px The shield of the New York City Police Department (NYPD), with shield number "911".
Flag of the New York City Police Department
Motto	Fidelis ad mortem (English: "Faithful Unto Death")
Agency overview
Formed	1845
Employees	49,526 (2013)
Annual budget	$4.8 billion
Legal personality	Governmental: Government agency
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction*	State of New York, U.S.
Map of City of New York Police Department's jurisdiction.
Size	468.9 square miles (1,214 km2)
Population	8,405,000
Legal jurisdiction	New York City
General nature	Law enforcement Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	1 Police Plaza
Police Commissioner responsible	William J. Bratton
Agency executive	James P. O'Neill, Chief of Department
Parent agency	City Administrator's Office
Units	List Auxiliary Police Aviation Crime Scene Emergency Service Highway Patrol Housing Bureau Evidence Collection Major Case Squad Movie and Television Organized Crime Control Bureau Real Time Crime Scuba Team and Harbor Special Victims School Safety Taxi Squad Transit Bureau Transportation Bureau
Boroughs	List Manhattan North Manhattan South Brooklyn North Brooklyn South Queens North Queens South Bronx Staten Island
Facilities
Commands	77 Precincts 12 Transit Districts 9 Housing Police Service Areas
Police cars	8,839
Police boats	11
Helicopters	8
Horses	120
Dogs	31 German Shepherds 3 Bloodhounds
Website
www.NYC.gov
Footnotes
* Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction.

The New York City Police Department (NYPD or NYCPD), officially the City of New York Police Department, was established in 1845 and is the largest municipal police force in the United States, having primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City. The NYPD is one of the oldest police departments established in the United States, tracing its roots back to the seventeenth century.

The NYPD has a broad array of specialized services, including the Emergency Service Unit, K9, harbor patrol, air support, bomb disposal, counter-terrorism, criminal intelligence, anti-gang, anti-organized crime, narcotics, public transportation and public housing; the New York City Transit Police and New York City Housing Authority Police Department were fully integrated into the NYPD in 1995. According to the department, its mission is to "enforce the laws, preserve the peace, reduce fear, and provide for a safe environment." The department's regulations are compiled in title 38 of the New York City Rules.

In June 2004, there were about 40,000 sworn officers plus several thousand civilian employees; in June 2005, the number of officers dropped to 35,000. As of December 2011, that figure increased slightly to over 36,600, helped by the graduation of a class of 1,500 from the New York City Police Academy. The NYPD's current authorized uniformed strength is 34,450. There are also approximately 4,500 Auxiliary Police Officers, 5,000 School Safety Agents, 2,300 Traffic Enforcement Agents, and 370 Traffic Enforcement Supervisors currently employed by the department. The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association of the City of New York (NYC PBA), the largest municipal police union in the United States, represents over 50,000 active and retired NYC police officers.

The NYPD Intelligence Division & Counter-Terrorism Bureau has officers stationed in 11 cities internationally. In the 1990s the department developed a CompStat system of management which has also since been established in other cities.

Members of the NYPD are frequently referred to by politicians, some media and their own police cars by the nickname New York's Finest. The NYPD is headquartered at 1 Police Plaza, located on Park Row in Lower Manhattan across the street from City Hall.

NYPD has extensive crime scene investigation and laboratory resources, as well as units which assist with computer crime investigations. The NYPD runs a "Real Time Crime Center", essentially a large search engine and data warehouse operated by detectives to assist officers in the field with their investigations. A Domain Awareness System, a joint project of Microsoft and NYPD, links 6,000 closed-circuit television cameras, license plate readers, and other surveillance devices into an integrated system.

As the high-profile principal law-enforcement agency in the largest city in the United States - also a main media center - fictionalized versions of the NYPD and its officers have frequently been portrayed in media including novels, radio, television, motion pictures and video games.

History

Main article: History of the New York City Police Department

The Municipal Police were established in 1845, replacing an old night watch system. In 1857, it was tumultuously replaced by a Metropolitan force, which consolidated many other local police departments in 1898. Twentieth-century trends included professionalization and struggles against corruption.

Rank structure

This section discusses ranks of the NYPD as a whole. The School Safety Division, Traffic Control Division, Auxiliary Police Section and Police Academy have their own rank and grade structures despite being part of the NYPD and commanded by officers of the NYPD proper command structure.

Officers begin service with the rank of Probationary Police Officer, also referred to as Recruit Officer. After successful completion of six months of Police Academy training and various academic, physical, and tactical tests, officers graduate from the Police Academy. While officially retaining the title of Probationary Police Officer, graduates are referred to as a Police Officer, or informally as a "Rookie", until they have completed an additional 18 months probationary period.

There are three career "tracks" in the NYPD: supervisory, investigative, and specialist. The supervisory track consists of 12 sworn titles, referred to as ranks. Promotion to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant and captain are made via competitive civil service examinations. Promotion to the ranks of deputy inspector, inspector, deputy chief, assistant chief and chief are made at the discretion of the police commissioner, after successfully passing a series of civil service exams. Promotion from the rank of police officer to detective is determined by the current police labor contract, with the approval of the commissioner. The entry level appointment to detective is third grade or specialist. The commissioner may grant discretionary grades of first or second. These grades offer compensation roughly equivalent to that of supervisors. Specifically, a second grade detective's pay roughly corresponds to a sergeant's and a first grade detective's pay roughly corresponds to a lieutenant's. Detectives are police officers who have been given a more investigatory position but no official supervisory authority. A Detective First Grade still falls under the command of a sergeant or above. Just like detectives, sergeants and lieutenants can receive pay grade increases within their respective ranks.

Title	Insignia	Badge design	Badge color	Badge number	Uniform
Chief of Department		Medallion with eagle and stars	Gold, with silver stars	No	White shirt, black peaked cap, gold hat badge
Bureau Chief Supervising Chief Surgeon
Assistant Chief Assistant Chief Chaplain † Assistant Chief Surgeon
Deputy Chief Deputy Chief Chaplain † District Surgeon		Medallion with eagle and star
Inspector Chaplain † Police Surgeon		Medallion with eagle	Gold
Deputy Inspector		Laurels and crown with oak leaves
Captain		Laurels and crown
Lieutenant		Medallion
Sergeant	(sleeve)	Shield with eagle		Yes	Navy blue shirt, peaked cap, gold hat badge
Detective (grades 3rd–1st)	None	Medallion
Police Officer		Shield	Silver	Yes, matching hat badge	Navy blue shirt, peaked cap, silver hat badge with matching number
Probationary Police Officer
Recruit Officer				Yes	Slate grey, black garrison cap
Cadet		None

^ †: Uniform rank that has no police powers

NYPD officers from the Emergency Service Unit (ESU) in June 2009.

A NYPD police boat patrolling the East River

There are two basic types of detective in the NYPD: detective-investigators and detective-specialists.

Detective-Investigators are the type most people associate with the term "detective" and are the ones most frequently portrayed on television and in the movies. Most police officers gain their detective title by working in the Narcotics Division of the Organized Crime Control Bureau and are then moved to the Detective Bureau. Detectives assigned to squads are co-located within each precinct and are responsible for investigating murders, rapes, robberies, burglaries and other crimes within that precinct's boundaries. Other detective-investigators are assigned to specialized units at either the major command or citywide level, investigating terrorist groups, organized crime, narcotics dealing, extortion, bias crimes, political corruption, kidnappings, major frauds or thefts committed against banks or museums, police corruption, contractor fraud and other complex, politically sensitive or high-profile cases. A squad of detective-investigators is also assigned to each of the city's five district attorneys' offices. (Arsons are investigated by The Arson and Explosion Squad as well as fire marshals, who are part of the New York City Fire Department.)

Promotion from Police Officer to Detective-Investigator is based on investigative experience. Typically, a Police Officer who is assigned to investigative work for 18 months will be designated "Detective-Investigator" and receive the gold shield and pay increase commensurate with that designation. In the recent past, however, there has been controversy over the budget-conscious department compelling police officers to work past the 18 months without receiving the new title.

Newly appointed detectives start at Detective Third Grade, which has a pay rate roughly between that of Police Officer and Sergeant. As they gain seniority and experience, they can be "promoted" to Detective Second-Grade, which has a pay grade slightly less than sergeants. Detective First-Grade is an elite designation for the department's most senior and experienced investigators and carries a pay grade slightly less than Lieutenants. All these promotions are discretionary on the part of the Commissioner and can be revoked if warranted. And while senior detectives can give directions to junior detectives in their own squads, not even the most senior detective can lawfully issue orders to even a junior patrol officer. All Detective grades still fall under the "chain of command" of the supervisory ranks beginning with Sergeant through Chief of Department. Detectives, like Police Officers, are eligible to take the promotional civil service exams for entry into the supervisory ranks.

A lieutenant (white shirt) debriefing officers at Times Square in May 2010.

While carrying with them increased pay and prestige, none of these Detective grades confer on the holder any supervisory authority. Contrary to some media portrayals, there is no specific rank of "Detective Sergeant" or "Detective Lieutenant". Lieutenants and Sergeants are assigned to oversee Detective squads as Supervisors, and are responsible for all investigations.

There is a small percentage of Lieutenants and Sergeants who work as Investigative Supervisors (approximately equal to 10% of their respective ranks) and are granted the prestigious pay grade designations of "Sergeant—Supervisor Detective Squad" (SDS), or Lieutenant—Commander Detective Squad (CDS) therefore assuming full Investigative command responsibility as opposed to operational supervision. Their pay grade rises to an approximate midpoint between their normal rank and the next highest rank's pay grade, and similar to a Detective's "grade", is also a discretionary promotion. This pay grade designation is achieved by assignment to Investigative units, i.e. Detective Bureau, Internal Affairs Bureau, Counter-Terrorism Bureau, Intelligence Bureau, and Organized Crime Control Bureau. Lieutenants and Sergeants in non-investigatory assignments can be designated Lieutenant-Special Assignment or Sergeant-Special Assignment, pay equivalent to their investigative counterparts.

"Detective-specialists" are a relatively new designation and one unique to the NYPD. In the 1980s, many detectives resented that some officers were being granted the rank of detective in order to give them increased pay and status, but were not being assigned to investigative duties. Examples included officers assigned as bodyguards and drivers to the mayor, police commissioner and other senior officials.

To remedy this situation, the rank of detective-specialist was created. These officers are typically found in specialized units because they possess a unique or esoteric skill the department needs, e.g., crime-scene tech, sharpshooter, bomb technician, scuba instructor, helicopter instructor, sketch artist, etc. Like detective-investigators, detective-specialists start at third-grade and can be promoted to second- or first-grade status.

File:NYPD police motorcycle.png

A NYPD motorcycle police officer speaks with a passerby in 2008.

The Department is administered and governed by the Police Commissioner, who is appointed by the Mayor. Technically, the commissioner serves a five-year term; as a practical matter, the commissioner serves at the Mayor's pleasure. The commissioner in turn appoints numerous deputy commissioners. The commissioner and his subordinate deputies are civilians under an oath of office and are not uniformed members of the force who are sworn officers of the law. However, a police commissioner who comes up from the uniformed ranks retains that status while serving as police commissioner. This has ramifications for their police pensions and the fact that any police commissioner who is considered sworn does not need a pistol permit to carry a firearm, and does retain the statutory powers of a police officer. Some police commissioners (like Ray Kelly) do carry a personal firearm, but they also have a full-time security detail from the Police Commissioner's (Detective) Squad.

A First Deputy Police Commissioner may have a security detail when he/she acts as commissioner or under other circumstances as approved by the police commissioner.

Commissioner titles:

Title	Insignia
Police Commissioner
First Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner

These individuals are administrators who supersede the Chief of Department, and they usually specialize in areas of great importance to the Department, such as counterterrorism, operations, training, public information, legal matters, intelligence, and information technology. Despite their role, as civilian administrators of the Department, deputy commissioners are prohibited from taking operational control of a police situation (the Commissioner and the First Deputy Commissioner may take control of these situations, however).

Within the rank structure, there are also designations, known as "grades", that connote differences in duties, experience, and pay. However, supervisory functions are generally reserved for the rank of sergeant and above.

Badges in the New York City Police Department are referred to as "shields" (the traditional term), though not all badge designs are strictly shield-shaped. Every rank has a different badge design (with the exception of Police Officer and Probationary Police Officer), and upon change in rank officers receive a new badge. Lower-ranked police officers are identified by their shield numbers, and tax registry number. Lieutenants and above do not have shield numbers and are identified by tax registry number. All sworn members of the NYPD have their ID card photos taken against a red background. Civilian employees of the NYPD have their ID. card photos taken against a blue background, signifying that they are not commissioned to carry a firearm. All ID cards have an expiration date.

Medals

Main article: Medals of the New York City Police Department

The NYPD presents medals to its members (upon request and a self-initiated write-up) for meritorious service.

Organization and structure

File:NYPD One Police Plaza.JPG

One Police Plaza, headquarters of the New York City Police Department in Lower Manhattan.

Main article: Organization of the New York City Police Department

Office of the Chief of Department

The Chief of Department serves as the senior sworn uniformed member of the NYPD. James P. O'Neill is the 38th individual to hold the post, which prior to 1973 was known as the Chief of Operations and before that as Chief Inspector.

Bureaus

The Department is divided into ten bureaus, six of which are enforcement bureaus. Each enforcement bureau is sub-divided into sections, divisions, and units, and into patrol boroughs, precincts, and detective squads. Each Bureau is commanded by a Bureau Chief (such as the Chief of Patrol and the Chief of Housing). There are also a number of specialized units (such as the Operations Unit and Compstat) that are not part of any of the Bureaus and report to the Chief of the Department.

Personnel

File:NYPD swearing in July 2005.jpg

NYPD graduation ceremony in Madison Square Garden, July 2005.

See also: List of notable New York City Police Department officers

Crime prevention

Domain Awareness System

In August 2008, the Lower Manhattan Security Initiative in a partnership between the New York City Police Department and Microsoft began the Domain Awareness System to monitor New York City. The program allowed the department to track surveillance targets and gain detailed information about them. The system is connected to 6,000 video cameras around New York City as well as check radiological and nuclear detectors onboard helicopters, trucks and boats as well as detectors on police officers' gun belts that were so sensitive that people who have had medical procedures may trigger them. Lower Manhattan now includes thousands of surveillance cameras that can identify shapes and sizes of unidentified "suspicious" packages and can track people within seconds using descriptions such as "someone wearing a red shirt". In 2009, an extension into Midtown Manhattan was announced and by 2012 the program was fully implemented.

The system was also licensed out to other cities with New York City getting 30% of the profits. The system's development costs were estimated at $40 million.

This system was highlighted in a May 2013 episode of PBS' Nova on tracking the Boston Marathon Bombers.

Demographics

As of the end of 2010, 53% of the entire 34,526-member police force were white and 47% were members of minority groups. Of 22,199 officers on patrol, 53% (11,717) were black, Latino (of any race), or Asian or Asian-American, and 47% (10,482) were non-Hispanic white. Of 5,177 detectives, 57% (2,953) were white and 43% (2,224) were people of color. Of 4,639 sergeants, 61% (2,841) were white and 39% (1,798) were minorities. Of 1,742 lieutenants, 76% (1,323) were white and 24% (419) were people of color. Of 432 captains, 82% (356) were white and 18% (76) were minorities. Of 10 chiefs, 7 were white and 3 were people of color. In 2002, whites accounted for 60% of members in the rank of police officer. Between 2002 and 2010, the number of minorities in top-tier positions in the force increased by about 4.5%.

Corruption and misconduct

Main article: New York City Police Department corruption and misconduct

The Civilian Complaint Review Board is an all-civilian, 13-member panel tasked with investigating misconduct or lesser abuse accusations against NYPD officers, including use of excessive force, abuse of authority, discourtesy and offensive language. Complaints against officers may be filed online, by US mail, by phone or in person at any NYPD station.

The history of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has included thousands of documented cases of police misconduct (corruption or brutality) by its officers. Over 12,000 such cases have resulted in lawsuit settlements totaling over $400 million just during a five-year period ending in 2014. Any misconduct must be called "alleged" if it did not result in a criminal conviction of the accused officer.

Affiliations

The NYPD is affiliated with the New York City Police Foundation and the New York City Police Museum. It also runs a Youth Police academy to provide positive interaction with police officers and to educate young people about the challenges and responsibility of police work. The department also provides a citizen Police Academy which educates the public on basic law and policing procedures.

Line of duty deaths

According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, NYPD has lost 815 officers in the line of duty since 1806, the most recent officer having been lost on October 20, 2015. This figure includes officers from agencies that were absorbed by or became a part of the modern NYPD in addition to the modern department itself. This number also includes officers killed on and off duty by gunfire of other officers on duty. The NYPD lost 23 officers in the September 11, 2001 attacks, not including another 31 who died of illnesses related to the attacks.

Type	Number
9/11 related illness	85
Accidental	10
Aircraft accident	7
Animal related	117
Asphyxiation	2
Assault	31
Automobile accident	51
Bicycle accident	4
Boating accident	5
Bomb	2
Drowned	12
Duty related illness	10
Electrocuted	5
Explosion	8
Exposure	1
Fall	12
Fire	15
Gunfire	325
Gunfire (accidental)	24
Heart attack	44
Motorcycle accident	36
Stabbed	24
Struck by streetcar	7
Struck by train	5
Struck by vehicle	37
Structure collapse	3
Terrorist attack	24
Vehicle pursuit	12
Vehicular assault	20
Total	863

Vehicles

Patrol cars
Ford Crown Victoria United States (origin) Canada (manufacture)	Ford Police Interceptor Sedan United States	Chevrolet Impala United States (origin) Canada (manufacture)	Ford Fusion Hybrid United States
Nissan Altima Japan (origin) United States (manufacture) 100px	Dodge Charger United States (origin) Canada (manufacture) 100px Highway patrol	Toyota Prius Japan Traffic enforcement	Chevrolet Volt United States Traffic enforcement
SUVs
Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon United States	Ford Explorer Special Service Vehicle United States Patrol and Traffic Enforcement	Ford Escape Hybrid United States Patrol and Traffic Enforcement
Parking enforcement scooters
Westward Go-4 Interceptor Canada	Cushman United States
Emergency Service Unit vehicles
Lenco Peacekeeper United States Armored vehicle two in use by the ESU	Lenco BearCat United States Armored vehicle five in use by the ESU	Modified Ford F-550 United States ESU Radio Emergency Patrol	Mack United States ESU Heavy Rescue Truck
Communications vans
Chevrolet van United States 100px	Communications Division Command Post
Police buses
AmTran body on Navistar International chassis United States 100px	TMC/Nova Bus RTS United States	Orion V Suburban Canada (origin) United States (manufacture)	Modified Blue Bird All American United States Mobile command post
Helicopters
AgustaWestland AW119 United Kingdom & Italy	Bell Helicopter Bell 412EP United States
Miscellaneous
Ford E-Series United States 100px	Modified Hummer H1 United States Disorder Control Unit vehicle	John Deere Gator United States

Vehicles also include police motorcycles.

Vehicle appearance

The current NYPD vehicle appearance is an all-white vehicle body with two blue stripes along each side of the car. The word "POLICE" is printed in small text above the front wheel wells, and as "NYPD Police" above the grille opening. The NYPD shoulder patch is printed on both sides just in front of the front doors or on the front doors. The letters "NYPD" are printed in blue Rockwell Extra Bold font on the front doors, and the NYPD motto "Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect" is printed on the rear doors. The unit's shop number is printed on the rear decklid. The shop number is also printed on the rear side panels above the gas intake, along with the number of the unit's assigned precinct.

Some Traffic Enforcement units used a modified paint job, with dark blue carbody and white stripes on the sides. The text on the car is also printed in white. These are being phased out in favor of units painted in a modified version of the regular NYPD paint job, with the word "TRAFFIC" printed on the rear side panels and trunk.

Some NYPD Auxiliary units used a modified paint job, with dark blue or black carbody and white stripes on the sides. The text on the car is also printed in white. These are being phased out in favor of units painted in a modified version of the regular NYPD paint job, with the word "Auxiliary" printed on the rear side panels and trunk.

Firearms

On duty

New NYPD officers are allowed to choose from one of three 9mm service pistols: the SIG Sauer P226 DAO, Glock 19, and Smith & Wesson 5946. All are modified to a 12-pound (53 N) NY-2 trigger pull. Officers who purchased revolvers prior to the transition to semi-automatic pistols on January 1, 1994, are "grandfathered" and if so can choose to continue to carry a revolver as a duty weapon.

Shotgun-certified officers were authorized to carry Ithaca 37 shotguns, which are being phased out by newer Mossberg 590s. Officers and detectives belonging to special investigative units and NYPD's Emergency Service Unit are armed with a range of select-fire weapons and long guns, such as the Colt M4A1 carbine and similar-pattern AR-15 rifles, Ruger Mini-14 rifle, Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun, and the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle.

Off Duty MOS

The firearms approved by the NYPD for off duty carry are the Glock 26, Smith & Wesson 3914 DAO, Smith & Wesson 3953TSW, Smith & Wesson Model 640 (.38 revolver), SIG Sauer P239 DAO and the Beretta 8000D Mini Cougar. Along with those weapons, NYPD officers may also carry their authorized on-duty firearms while off duty.

Retired

From 1926 until 1986 the standard weapons of the department were the Smith & Wesson Model 10 and the Colt Official Police .38 Special revolvers with four-inch barrels. Prior to 1994 the standard weapon of the NYPD was the Smith & Wesson Model 64 DAO (Double Action Only) .38 Special revolver with three or four inch barrels. This type of revolver was called the Model NY-1 by the department.

Prior to the issuing of the 9mm semi-automatic pistol NYPD Detectives and plain clothes officers often carried the Colt Detective Special and/or the Smith & Wesson Model 36 "Chief's Special" .38 Special caliber snub-nosed (2-inch) barrel revolvers for their easiness to conceal while dressed in civilian clothes.

The Kahr K9 9 mm pistol was an approved off-duty/backup weapon from 1998 to 2011. It was pulled from service because it could not be modified to a 12-pound NY-2 trigger pull.

In popular culture

Further information: List of fictional portrayals of the NYPD

See also

• Law enforcement in the United States
• Law enforcement in New York
• Law enforcement in New York City
• List of law enforcement agencies in New York

Further reading

• Darien, Andrew T. Becoming New York's Finest: Race, Gender, and the Integration of the NYPD, 1935-1980. (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013)
• Miller, Wilbur R. Cops and bobbies: Police authority in New York and London, 1830-1870 (The Ohio State University Press, 1999)
• Monkkonen, Eric H. Police in Urban America, 1860-1920 (2004)
• Richardson, James F. "To Control the City: The New York Police in Historical Perspective." in Cities in American History, eds. Kenneth T. Jackson and Stanley K. Schultz (1972) pp: 3-13.
• Richardson, James F. The New York Police, Colonial Times to 1901 (Oxford University Press, 1970)
• Thale, Christopher. "The Informal World of Police Patrol: New York City in the Early Twentieth Century," Journal of Urban History (2007) 33#2 pp 183–216.

External links

• Official website
• Police Department in the Rules of the City of New York
• New York City Police Department collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• "With the Sky Police", Popular Mechanics, January 1932 article about the NY City Police Air Force and the Keystone-Loening Commuter in service at that time, photos pp. 26–30
• NYPD Annual Reports 1912–1923 (digitized books) from the Lloyd Sealy Library on the Internet Archive
• Historical images from the NYPD Annual Reports, 1923–23 from the Lloyd Sealy Library Digital Collections