City University of New York Public Safety Department
Encyclopedia
The City University of New York Public Safety Department (CUNY Public Safety) is the fifth largest law enforcement agency
in New York City
whose duties are to protect all campuses owned by the City University of New York
(CUNY) and to enforce state and city laws on and off campus grounds 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The CUNY Public Safety Department is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in New York City
with 700 Officers. The CUNY Public Safety Department serves and protects more than 460,000 students throughout the five boroughs of the City of New York.
, 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 force at each of the 19 CUNY campuses were headed by Directors. These Directors eventually were designated as Chiefs. 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. However, the campus reserves certain posts for students as a training tool, thus allowing students to be hired to provide security services until further notice. Although the Public Safety Sergeants hold "Peace Officer" status throughout the state of New York, the students are technically "College Assistant" employees and hold no peace officer status. The first officers to be brought on were sergeants who were primarily retired police and correctional officers from around New York City
. 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 officer
s and were then commissioned by the state. In time the ranks of Corporal, Lieutenant and Specialist were introduced. All of these ranks are based on the NYPD's ranking system; however, the rank of Corporal does not exist in the NYPD. The rank of Specialist is equivalent to that of an NYPD Detective-Specialist, working in a particular field/specialty, reporting directly to the Director of the campus that he or she works at. There are three types of Specialist: Crime Prevention and Investigations, Electronics Service, and Fire Safety. In recent years, the rank of Deputy Chief and Director has been added to the rank structure.
Currently, CUNY Public Safety has the following units:
, PAPD ESU) throughout the Greater New York City
area is also under consideration.
was housed at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
. CUNY's current public safety academy is located at York College
in Jamaica, Queens
, however the academy will be moving to another location in Jamaica, Queens in order to expand. The training course provides the state required hours of training needed to certify all officers as peace officer
s and other training relevant to university policing. This includes, but is not limited to; law, police science, powers of a peace officer, defensive tactics, community interaction, radio use, arrest procedures, and first aid
/CPR. CUNY peace officers receive additional annual training on law enforcement topics and bi-annual emergency medical training. CUNY also trains NYC Health and Hospital Police officers
and Brooklyn Public Library peace officers. All agencies receive basic training, but the training courses also vary from agency to agency. The public safety academy may begin to train other law enforcement officers, such as New York City Deputy Sheriffs
.
, handcuffs
, flashlight
, bullet resistant vest, and a radio that is directly linked to a Central Dispatcher and to other officers. Some officers are also equipped with firearm
s. Officers that are equipped carry the Glock 19 9mm.
Although all CUNY officers are trained to use deadly physical force, only officers at certain post assignments carry a firearm due to the highly sensitive educational system. Historically, the university had anti-police sentiment. On most campuses, officers are unarmed. Officers assigned to the SAFE team, special details and high crime campuses carry firearms.
The department uses numerous vehicles including vans, bikes, scooters, and patrol cars
.
arrest
s and use physical and deadly force. Campus Peace Officers are also authorized to carry firearms with the approval of their college president. Colleges such as Lehman
and Brooklyn College
have armed their supervisors on a full time basis, in uniform and plainclothes. Several other campuses have officers that carry on special assignments and have at least one to two firearms on campus on a regular basis. In total, CUNY has approximately 100 armed officers, according to the NYPD Pistol License Division. Per the Criminal Procedure Law, CUNY Officers have Peace Officer Status and Powers through the entire state of New York, and may make arrests anywhere in the state both on and off duty. CPL § 2.10 "Persons designated as peace officers: Notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law or charter to the contrary, only the following persons shall have the powers of, and shall be peace officers: "...campus peace officers-level I, level II and level III and campus public safety
officers employed by the city university of New York..."
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
whose duties are to protect all campuses owned by the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
(CUNY) and to enforce state and city laws on and off campus grounds 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The CUNY Public Safety Department is one of the largest law enforcement agencies in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with 700 Officers. The CUNY Public Safety Department serves and protects more than 460,000 students throughout the five boroughs of the City of New York.
History
In 1990 under the order of then University ChancellorChancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
, W. Ann Reynolds
W. Ann Reynolds
Wynetka Ann Reynolds is a zoologist and university administrator who has served as provost of the Ohio State University , chancellor of the California State University system , chancellor of the City University of New York , and president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham...
, the CUNY Public Safety Department was formed after CUNY found a need to provide public safety services for its own community. The Public Safety force at each of the 19 CUNY campuses were headed by Directors. These Directors eventually were designated as Chiefs. As of September 2011, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a senior college of the City University of New York in Midtown Manhattan, New York City and is the only liberal arts college with a criminal justice and forensic focus in the United States. The college offers programs in Forensic Science and Forensic...
, has officially employed CUNY Public Safety Sergeants, phasing out the student-employed Public Safety Field Supervisor position. However, the campus reserves certain posts for students as a training tool, thus allowing students to be hired to provide security services until further notice. Although the Public Safety Sergeants hold "Peace Officer" status throughout the state of New York, the students are technically "College Assistant" employees and hold no peace officer status. The first officers to be brought on were sergeants who were primarily retired police and correctional officers from around New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. 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
New York City Police Commissioner
The New York City Police Commissioner is the head of the New York City Police Department, appointed by the Mayor of New York City. Governor Theodore Roosevelt, in one of his final acts before becoming Vice President of the United States in March 1901, signed legislation replacing the Police Board...
. After a few years, the officers received recognition by the State of New York as peace officer
Peace officer
A law enforcement officer , in North America, is any public-sector employee or agent whose duties involve the enforcement of laws. The phrase can include police officers, prison officers, customs officers, immigration officers, bailiffs, probation officers, parole officers, auxiliary officers, and...
s and were then commissioned by the state. In time the ranks of Corporal, Lieutenant and Specialist were introduced. All of these ranks are based on the NYPD's ranking system; however, the rank of Corporal does not exist in the NYPD. The rank of Specialist is equivalent to that of an NYPD Detective-Specialist, working in a particular field/specialty, reporting directly to the Director of the campus that he or she works at. There are three types of Specialist: Crime Prevention and Investigations, Electronics Service, and Fire Safety. In recent years, the rank of Deputy Chief and Director has been added to the rank structure.
Ranks
There are eight titles (referred to as ranks) in the City University of New York Public Safety Department:| Title | Insignia | Uniform Shirt Color |
|---|---|---|
| Chief |  |
|
| Deputy Chief |  |
|
| Director |  |
|
| Lieutenant |  |
|
| Sergeant | ||
| Corporal |  |
|
| Specialist Campus Peace Officer |
Incidents
- A deadly stampede during a 1991 celebrity basketball game at City College of New YorkCity College of New YorkThe City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
organized by Sean "Puffy" Combs and rapper Heavy D sparked CUNY to upgrade its level of security on its campuses. The tragic incident at City College left 8 people dead and 29 injured. - In the 1990s, CUNY suffered student take overs of its campuses during tuition hike protests. Students locked the University Administration out and were removed only after the NYPD was called in. These two incidents prompted the University to speed its development of an in house police force that it could use to enforce university policy as well as the laws of New York State.
- On September 11, 2001, the city was the target of terrorist attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. CUNY's Borough of Manhattan Community CollegeBorough of Manhattan Community CollegeThe Borough of Manhattan Community College is one of six two-year colleges within the City University of New York system and the only one in Manhattan. Founded in 1963, BMCC originally offered business-oriented and liberal arts degrees for those intending to enter the business world or transfer...
(BMCC) lost an academic building called Fiterman Hall due to the collapse of the World Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterThe original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
. The City University of New York BMCC Campus is the only higher education institution to have been directly effected by the 9/11 attacks. During the rescue and recovery operation for the World Trade CenterWorld Trade CenterThe original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
, the Port Authority Police DepartmentPort Authority Police DepartmentThe Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police Department, or Port Authority Police Department , is a law enforcement agency in New York and New Jersey, the duties of which are to protect all facilities owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and to enforce state and city laws...
set up headquarters at CUNY's BMCC campus. The CUNY Public Safety Special Response Team (formally called the SAFE Team) evacuated neighboring apartment complexes such as Independence Plaza and assisted in area access control.
Units
- Patrol Unit - Officers patrol on foot, on bicycles, and in marked police carPolice carA police car is a ground vehicle used by police, to assist with their duties in patrolling and responding to incidents. Typical uses of a police car include transportation for officers to reach the scene of an incident quickly, to transport criminal suspects, or to patrol an area, while providing a...
s.http://flickr.com/photos/jag9889/2539169617
- Bicycle Unit - Part of the patrol unit, officers have to go through 5 day course to qualify for the unit.
- Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) - Many members of the department are state certified Emergency Medical Technicians. In addition to their law enforcement duties, these officers, as medical emergency specialists, must receive 140 hours (28 weeks) of state certified medical training with an additional 12-hour rotation in a hospital emergency room. The EMTs are equipped with an array of medical emergency equipment.
- Canine Unit - Currently, canine units are only at three campuses. Officers assigned to these units must complete a 360 hour course according to New York State standards.
- Special Response Unit - Formally called the S.A.F.E. Team, this unit is the university's emergency response team.
Future of the units
The restructuring of the S.A.F.E unit to be more reflective of other emergency response teams (e.g.: NYPD ESUNew York City Police Department Emergency Service Unit
The New York City Police Department Emergency Service Unit is the Emergency Service Unit for the New York City Police Department. A component of the Special Operations Division of the Patrol Services Bureau, the unit provides specialized support and advanced equipment to other NYPD units. For...
, PAPD ESU) throughout the Greater New York City
New York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
area is also under consideration.
Training
The department's first public safety academyPolice academy
A police academy is a training school for new police recruits, also known as a law enforcement academy.-Australia:Larger police departments usually run their own academies. States often run a centralised academy for training of personnel of law enforcement agencies within the state.Police...
was housed at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a senior college of the City University of New York in Midtown Manhattan, New York City and is the only liberal arts college with a criminal justice and forensic focus in the United States. The college offers programs in Forensic Science and Forensic...
. CUNY's current public safety academy is located at York College
York College, City University of New York
York College of The City University of New York is one of eleven senior colleges in the City University of New York system. It is located in Jamaica, Queens in New York City...
in Jamaica, Queens
Jamaica, Queens
Jamaica is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. It was settled under Dutch rule in 1656 in New Netherland as Rustdorp. Under British rule, the Village of Jamaica became the center of the "Town of Jamaica"...
, however the academy will be moving to another location in Jamaica, Queens in order to expand. The training course provides the state required hours of training needed to certify all officers as peace officer
Peace officer
A law enforcement officer , in North America, is any public-sector employee or agent whose duties involve the enforcement of laws. The phrase can include police officers, prison officers, customs officers, immigration officers, bailiffs, probation officers, parole officers, auxiliary officers, and...
s and other training relevant to university policing. This includes, but is not limited to; law, police science, powers of a peace officer, defensive tactics, community interaction, radio use, arrest procedures, and first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
/CPR. CUNY peace officers receive additional annual training on law enforcement topics and bi-annual emergency medical training. CUNY also trains NYC Health and Hospital Police officers
New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Police
The New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Police is a law enforcement agency in New York City that's duties are to provide police and security services to hospitals operated by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation , and to enforce state and city laws at hospitals operated...
and Brooklyn Public Library peace officers. All agencies receive basic training, but the training courses also vary from agency to agency. The public safety academy may begin to train other law enforcement officers, such as New York City Deputy Sheriffs
New York City Sheriff's Office
The New York City Sheriff's Office is the civil law enforcement division of the New York City Department of Finance. The Sheriff's office is headed by a sheriff, who is appointed to the position by the mayor, unlike most sheriffs in New York State who are elected officials...
.
Equipment and vehicles
CUNY officers are equipped with an ASP baton, pepper sprayPepper spray
Pepper spray, also known as OC spray , OC gas, and capsicum spray, is a lachrymatory agent that is used in riot control, crowd control and personal self-defense, including defense against dogs and bears...
, handcuffs
Handcuffs
Handcuffs are restraint devices designed to secure an individual's wrists close together. They comprise two parts, linked together by a chain, a hinge, or rigid bar. Each half has a rotating arm which engages with a ratchet that prevents it from being opened once closed around a person's wrist...
, flashlight
Flashlight
A flashlight is a hand-held electric-powered light source. Usually the light source is a small incandescent lightbulb or light-emitting diode...
, bullet resistant vest, and a radio that is directly linked to a Central Dispatcher and to other officers. Some officers are also equipped with firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s. Officers that are equipped carry the Glock 19 9mm.
Although all CUNY officers are trained to use deadly physical force, only officers at certain post assignments carry a firearm due to the highly sensitive educational system. Historically, the university had anti-police sentiment. On most campuses, officers are unarmed. Officers assigned to the SAFE team, special details and high crime campuses carry firearms.
The department uses numerous vehicles including vans, bikes, scooters, and patrol cars
Police car
A police car is a ground vehicle used by police, to assist with their duties in patrolling and responding to incidents. Typical uses of a police car include transportation for officers to reach the scene of an incident quickly, to transport criminal suspects, or to patrol an area, while providing a...
.
Power and authority
CUNY Campus Peace Officers are New York State Peace Officers authorized to make warrantlessWarrant (law)
Most often, the term warrant refers to a specific type of authorization; a writ issued by a competent officer, usually a judge or magistrate, which permits an otherwise illegal act that would violate individual rights and affords the person executing the writ protection from damages if the act is...
arrest
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
s and use physical and deadly force. Campus Peace Officers are also authorized to carry firearms with the approval of their college president. Colleges such as Lehman
Lehman College
Lehman College is one of the constituent colleges of the City University of New York, USA. Founded in 1931 as the Bronx campus of Hunter College, the school became an independent college within the City University in 1968. The college is named after Herbert Lehman, a former New York governor,...
and Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
have armed their supervisors on a full time basis, in uniform and plainclothes. Several other campuses have officers that carry on special assignments and have at least one to two firearms on campus on a regular basis. In total, CUNY has approximately 100 armed officers, according to the NYPD Pistol License Division. Per the Criminal Procedure Law, CUNY Officers have Peace Officer Status and Powers through the entire state of New York, and may make arrests anywhere in the state both on and off duty. CPL § 2.10 "Persons designated as peace officers: Notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law or charter to the contrary, only the following persons shall have the powers of, and shall be peace officers: "...campus peace officers-level I, level II and level III and campus public safety
officers employed by the city university of New York..."
Relationship with the NYPD
The working relationship between the NYPD and the CUNY Public Safety Department is very good. Both departments have partnered up to combat crime in neighborhoods near campuses throughout the city.See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in New York
- Law enforcement in New York CityLaw enforcement in New York CityLaw 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. As with the rest of the US, agencies operate at federal and state levels. However, New York City's unique nature means...
- Department of Public SafetyDepartment of Public SafetyThe Department of Public Safety , also called an Office of Public Safety, is a state or local government umbrella agency in the United States which serves to assist the certain agencies in their services by providing administrative, financial, and technical services and support for core public...
- New York City Police DepartmentNew York City Police DepartmentThe New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
External links
- Hostos College CUNY Public Safety Website
- Lehman College CUNY Public Safety Website
- CUNY Public Safety Website
- Baruch College CUNY Public Safety Website
- City College CUNY Public Safety Website
- Graduate Center College CUNY Public Safety Website
- Hunter College CUNY Public Safety Website
- College of Staten Island CUNY Public Safety Website
- Brooklyn College CUNY Public Safety Website
- Bronx College CUNY Public Safety Website
- York College CUNY Public Safety Website
- Lehman College CUNY Public Safety Website
- Teamsters Local 237