Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department
Encyclopedia
The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department (RIPSD) is a law enforcement agency
in New York City
whose duties are to patrol Roosevelt Island
, New York
, Manhattan Tram Plaza, Roosevelt Island F-Train Station because of the contract New York State made with New York City
in 1968 which gave New York State a 99 year lease on the land. The department is Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation's law enforcement arm and protects the island's property including all public/state facilities, storefronts and patrols certain contracted residential buildings officers also patrol the islands only subway station and public school which is under NYC DOE, and to enforce state and city laws on the island. The department is manned by approximately 40 officers. They patrol an area which is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) in length (north to south) and 800 feet (243.8 m) at its largest width, which is East to West. On September 21, 2009, the department opened their new command center located at 550 Main Street. The new command center has new and improved offices, a new training room, a weight room, as well as 2 holding cells for arrest processing.The Main command center monitors 24 hour island wide camera system and every vehicle that comes onto Roosevelt Island via Lic.Plate/Registration readers installed on the Roosevelt Island Bridge. As well as cameras on the Manhattan side of the tram, along the route and inside the tram cars. Also the officers monitor cameras in the Roosevelt Landings housing Complex.
patches on their arms. They are equipped with a bullet resistant vest, firearms, a can of pepper spray
, expandable PR-24 baton, flashlight
and a police radio that is directly linked to the Central Dispatcher and other Public Safety officers. The department uses marked police car
s that are painted white with blue decals. The department also has an Anti Crime Unit with officers in plain clothes, a Detective Squad, a Bike Patrol Unit,a Radar Enforcement Unit,and one certified EMT.
es such as NYC Parking Violations, NYS Moving Violations, NYS and NYC Criminal Court summonses, Environmental Control Board summonses, and use physical and deadly physical force. Arrests are processed by the officers, and persons arrested are processed and lodged at Manhattan Central Booking, where they await arraignment. All officers are trained and responsible to factually testify in the court of law in regard to their actions.
revolver
s. Originally, RIPD/DHCRPD had state jurisdiction since they were employed as state officers. In 1984, the "Roosevelt Island Operating Corp" was formed and island operations were transferred to it. Not long after that in 1985 the DHCR Police were disbanded and Officers/Sergeants/Lieutenants/Captains could remain as Security Guards for "RIOC" or could join the NYS Department of Correctional Services. Most officers went to the NYPD, New York City Transit Police, and New York City Housing Authority Police Department, and only 2 or 3 went to NYS DOC. The guys who stayed were now part of RIOC Security, with no special patrolman status, no guns, and security type uniforms. Then about a year or two later after civilians demanded a more professional, police type force, RIOC formed the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department. Their first patrol cars were red Ford Bronkos and uniforms were changed to NYPD style uniforms. They were given New York State Peace Officer powers and certain equipment but were still unarmed. The RIPD [1979-1981] cars looked like the Port Authority's police cars. They were blue with yellow tops and gray lines with the words "Roosevelt Island Police" written in red lettering, The color was changed in 1980 to white and a van was added. Then they switched from RIPD to a name change of NYS DHCR Police [1981-1985]. Those cars looked like modern day state trooper cars. Same graphics, colors, (actually, instead of navy blue the cars were black with gold stripes) and where it says "State Trooper" it said "DHCR POLICE". In 1986, there was a big story on a duplication of services by a town police department in upstate NY. Then Governor Mario Cuomo
then started an investigation on duplicated services for police departments, and since Roosevelt Island was in NYC, the city police forces would often assist on the island so Gov. Cuomo then disbanded about 15 departments in NYS, with DHCRPD being one. RIOC also wanted them disbanded to have total control of their own Public Safety Department.
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 patrol Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island
Roosevelt Island, known as Welfare Island from 1921 to 1973, and before that Blackwell's Island, is a narrow island in the East River of New York City. It lies between the island of Manhattan to its west and the borough of Queens to its east...
, 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...
, Manhattan Tram Plaza, Roosevelt Island F-Train Station because of the contract New York State made with 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...
in 1968 which gave New York State a 99 year lease on the land. The department is Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation's law enforcement arm and protects the island's property including all public/state facilities, storefronts and patrols certain contracted residential buildings officers also patrol the islands only subway station and public school which is under NYC DOE, and to enforce state and city laws on the island. The department is manned by approximately 40 officers. They patrol an area which is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) in length (north to south) and 800 feet (243.8 m) at its largest width, which is East to West. On September 21, 2009, the department opened their new command center located at 550 Main Street. The new command center has new and improved offices, a new training room, a weight room, as well as 2 holding cells for arrest processing.The Main command center monitors 24 hour island wide camera system and every vehicle that comes onto Roosevelt Island via Lic.Plate/Registration readers installed on the Roosevelt Island Bridge. As well as cameras on the Manhattan side of the tram, along the route and inside the tram cars. Also the officers monitor cameras in the Roosevelt Landings housing Complex.
Equipment and uniforms
Roosevelt Island Officers wear dark blue uniforms with patches on the front and back as well as the Roosevelt Island Department of Public SafetyDepartment of Public Safety
The 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...
patches on their arms. They are equipped with a bullet resistant vest, firearms, a can of pepper spray
Pepper 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...
, expandable PR-24 baton, 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...
and a police radio that is directly linked to the Central Dispatcher and other Public Safety officers. The department uses marked police car
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...
s that are painted white with blue decals. The department also has an Anti Crime Unit with officers in plain clothes, a Detective Squad, a Bike Patrol Unit,a Radar Enforcement Unit,and one certified EMT.
Power and authority
Roosevelt Island Officers are certified New York State Peace Officers. As State peace officers working for a state agency, they have state wide peace officer powers. With peace officer powers, officers can make warrantless arrests, issue summonsSummons
Legally, a summons is a legal document issued by a court or by an administrative agency of government for various purposes.-Judicial summons:...
es such as NYC Parking Violations, NYS Moving Violations, NYS and NYC Criminal Court summonses, Environmental Control Board summonses, and use physical and deadly physical force. Arrests are processed by the officers, and persons arrested are processed and lodged at Manhattan Central Booking, where they await arraignment. All officers are trained and responsible to factually testify in the court of law in regard to their actions.
Training
The officers complete a 12 week academy and a field training course which includes training in law, police science, powers of a peace/police officer, self defense/tactics, arrest procedures, traffic stops, "police style" on the beat patrolling, vertical patrol tactics, park enforcement, and basic life support/CPR. Also an additional 8 weeks of field patrol, in which new officers must satisfactory complete in part of their supplemental training.History
When the island was first developed/opened to the public for housing by the "Roosevelt Island Development Corp", security on the island was handled by security guards contracted by "RIDC". The firm was City Security Guards Inc. from 1976-1978. Then in 1978 the contract was terminated and a full service police force was formed and law enforcement was handled by the Roosevelt Island Police Department (RIPD) from 1979–1981. In 1981 a name change happened and RIDC transferred all officers to the "NYS Division of Housing and Community Renewal Police" (NYS DHCR Police) from 1981 to approx. 1985. Both police departments were staffed by peace officers, and members had statewide jurisdiction and powers both on and off duty. Officers were armed with standard issue .38 special.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
s. Originally, RIPD/DHCRPD had state jurisdiction since they were employed as state officers. In 1984, the "Roosevelt Island Operating Corp" was formed and island operations were transferred to it. Not long after that in 1985 the DHCR Police were disbanded and Officers/Sergeants/Lieutenants/Captains could remain as Security Guards for "RIOC" or could join the NYS Department of Correctional Services. Most officers went to the NYPD, New York City Transit Police, and New York City Housing Authority Police Department, and only 2 or 3 went to NYS DOC. The guys who stayed were now part of RIOC Security, with no special patrolman status, no guns, and security type uniforms. Then about a year or two later after civilians demanded a more professional, police type force, RIOC formed the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department. Their first patrol cars were red Ford Bronkos and uniforms were changed to NYPD style uniforms. They were given New York State Peace Officer powers and certain equipment but were still unarmed. The RIPD [1979-1981] cars looked like the Port Authority's police cars. They were blue with yellow tops and gray lines with the words "Roosevelt Island Police" written in red lettering, The color was changed in 1980 to white and a van was added. Then they switched from RIPD to a name change of NYS DHCR Police [1981-1985]. Those cars looked like modern day state trooper cars. Same graphics, colors, (actually, instead of navy blue the cars were black with gold stripes) and where it says "State Trooper" it said "DHCR POLICE". In 1986, there was a big story on a duplication of services by a town police department in upstate NY. Then Governor Mario Cuomo
Mario Cuomo
Mario Matthew Cuomo served as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1994, and is the father of Andrew Cuomo, the current governor of New York.-Early life:...
then started an investigation on duplicated services for police departments, and since Roosevelt Island was in NYC, the city police forces would often assist on the island so Gov. Cuomo then disbanded about 15 departments in NYS, with DHCRPD being one. RIOC also wanted them disbanded to have total control of their own Public Safety Department.
Rank structure
There are seven titles (referred to as ranks) in the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department:| Title | Insignia | Uniform Shirt Color |
|---|---|---|
| Chief (Director) |  |
|
| Deputy Chief (Deputy Director) |  |
|
| Captain | ||
| Lieutenant |  |
Dark Blue: patrol |
| Sergeant | ||
| Detective New York State Officer |
 |
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...