 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
| New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Common name | NYC DEP Police |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | August 24, 1906; 118 years ago (1906-08-24) |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | New York, New York, United States |
| Legal jurisdiction | New York state |
| Governing body | New York City Department of Environmental Protection |
| General nature | |
| Specialist jurisdiction |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | DEP Headquarters Lefrak City, Queens |
| Environmental Police Officers | Approx. 200 |
| Agency executive |
|
| Units |
List
|
| Facilities | |
| Precincts | 1st Precinct – Gilboa (Schoharie Reservoir)
2nd Precinct – Beerston (Cannonsville Reservoir) 3rd Precinct – Downsville (Pepacton Reservoir) 4th Precinct – Ashokan (Ashokan Reservoir) 5th Precinct – Neversink (Roundout and Neversink Reservoirs) 6th Precinct – Eastview (Kensico Reservoir) 7th Precinct – Yonkers (Hillview Reservoir) Aviation Unit - Wappingers Falls DEP Police Academy - Kingston |
| Website | |
| NYC DEP Website | |
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 maintained by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, 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 (BWS) 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 (with a preference for Spanish–American War Veterans). 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 (300 of these being mounted units) 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 staffed 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 present day, 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 State sworn police officers (not NYS peace officers, which many other NYC law enforcement agencies are).
Today
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection Police investigate over 4,000 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.
Jurisdiction
The DEP department maintains jurisdiction in 14 counties including the 5 counties in New York City.
Department Units
The department has a full-time Aviation Unit, as well as:
- Emergency Services Unit
- Marine Patrol
- UTV Patrol
- K-9 Patrol Unit
- Detective Bureau
Rank structure
There are seven titles (referred to as ranks) in the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police:
| Title | Insignia | Uniform shirt color |
|---|---|---|
| Chief |  |
White |
| Deputy Chief |  |
White |
| Captain |  |
White |
| Lieutenant |  |
White |
| Detective Sergeant Sergeant |
 |
Dark blue |
| Detective Environmental Police Officer |
 |
Dark blue |
Training
Training takes place in Kingston, NY for 6 months and 1-month at the precinct assigned to the trainee. Recruits are expected to move to Kingston, NY for the duration of the academy. Class sizes vary between 20 and 40 recruits and there is a new academy class every few years.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in New York
- New York City water supply system
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police
- New York City Department of Sanitation Police (DSNY Police)
References
- DEP, NYC (2 May 2022). "Department of Environmental Protection Promotes Four Members of Police Division". nyc.gov. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- New York State Criminal Procedure Law, section 1.20, subsection 34, paragraph o
- DEP, NYC (2 May 2022). "Department of Environmental Protection Promotes Four Members of Police Division". nyc.gov. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- Note there is no civil service exam for these titles. Instead an officer must go through an interview with the department heads who choose who will be promoted.
