New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police
Encyclopedia
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
whose duties are to protect and preserve the New York City water supply system, the nation's largest single source water supply. The department has protected and preserved the water supply system for over 100 years.
, 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 manned by five sergeants and thirty officers and horses.
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 police officers.
The NYC Department of Environmental Protection Police investigate over 4000 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. The DEP department maintains jurisdiction in 14 counties including the 5 counties in New York City. The department has a full time Aviation Unit, ESU Team, Marine Patrol
, K-9 Patrol
, and Detective Bureau
.
on an icy road and it flipped. Sergeant Klan suffered neck and shoulder injuries, forcing him to take off from work. His salary wasn't paid to him, and he was forced to refinance his home in order to pay bills.
In March 2009, DEP officer Eric Hoffman was injured when he crashed his all-terrain vehicle while chasing after trespassers and did not have line of duty injury benefits
On April 20, 2009, DEP Police officers and their union president rallied outside New York City Hall
for line of duty injury benefits.
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
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
whose duties are to protect and preserve the New York City water supply system, 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, GarrisonGarrison, New York
Garrison is a hamlet in Putnam County, New York, United States. It is part of the town of Philipstown and is on the east side of the Hudson River, across from the United States Military Academy at West Point...
, Browns Station
Brown's Station, New York
Brown's Station, New York is a village that no longer exists. It was located in the Esopus Valley of southeastern Ulster County, New York , and it was submerged by the waters of the Ashokan Reservoir, an artificial lake built between 1906 and 1915 to supply fresh water to New York City.The...
, and High Falls
High Falls, New York
High Falls is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States. The population was 627 at the 2000 census.High Falls is located in Marbletown, near the town boundary with Rosendale.-Geography:...
. 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
Rhinelander Waldo
Rhinelander Waldo was appointed the 7th New York City Fire Commissioner by Mayor William Jay Gaynor on January 13, 1910. He resigned on May 23, 1911, less than two months after the deadly Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire to accept an appointment as the 8th New York City Police Commissioner...
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
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
or the National Guard
New York Army National Guard
The New York Army National Guard is a component of the New York National Guard and the Army National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization...
(with a preference for Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
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
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
. Other Precincts were built shortly after, each being manned by five sergeants and thirty officers and horses.
In 1983, the Bureau of Water Supply became the Department of Environmental Protection
New York City Department of Environmental Protection
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection is a City agency of nearly 6,000 employees that manages and conserves the City’s water supply; distributes more than one billion gallons of clean drinking water each day to nine million New Yorkers and collects wastewater through a vast...
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 police officers.
Today
Water police
Water police, also called harbour patrols, port police, marine/maritime police, nautical patrols, bay constables or river police, are police officers, usually a department of a larger police organisation, who patrol in water craft...
, K-9 Patrol
Police dog
A police dog, often referred to as a "K-9 dog" in some areas , is a dog that is trained specifically to assist police and other law-enforcement personnel in their work...
, and Detective Bureau
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
.
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 |  |
|
| Deputy Chief |  |
|
| Lieutenant |  |
|
| Detective Sergeant Sergeant |
||
| Detective Environmental Police Officer |
 |
Salary
The salary for DEP Police officer is $25,631 for the first 26 weeks while in training, which jumps to $29,405 after the completion of training. The salary rises up to $30,355 after one year, and reaches the top salary of $44,742 after 6 years.Line of Duty Injury Benefits
DEP Police officers do not have line of duty injury benefits. This issue first came to light in 2008 when DEP Police sergeant Ed Klan was responding to a shots fired call. He lost control of his police carPolice 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...
on an icy road and it flipped. Sergeant Klan suffered neck and shoulder injuries, forcing him to take off from work. His salary wasn't paid to him, and he was forced to refinance his home in order to pay bills.
In March 2009, DEP officer Eric Hoffman was injured when he crashed his all-terrain vehicle while chasing after trespassers and did not have line of duty injury benefits
On April 20, 2009, DEP Police officers and their union president rallied outside New York City Hall
New York City Hall
New York City Hall is located at the center of City Hall Park in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA, between Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. The building is the oldest City Hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions, such as...
for line of duty injury benefits.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in New York
- New York City water supply system
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation PoliceNew York State Department of Environmental Conservation PoliceThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police is the police force of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Members of the DEC Police are New York State police officers...