New York City Parks Enforcement Patrol
Encyclopedia
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
maintains a specialized unit of full time and seasonal uniformed peace officers who enforce department rules and regulations, as well as New York State laws within the jurisdiction of New York City
parks. Established in 1981, NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol officers patrol on foot, horseback, patrol boat and in marked SUVs and trucks. Parks Enforcement officers are responsible for protecting NYC Park land, waterways under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation, city owned monuments, and public pools.
In an effort to show the mayor the effectiveness of a park patrol force in hopes of a having a full time force established, Commissioner Hennessy created volunteer park inspectors (later called "Auxiliary Park Inspectors") to patrol the Bronx parks during the day. According to his "1919 annual report of the Department of Parks", the first park inspector he appointed was Inspector William Blackie. Inspector Blackie was injured on Columbus Day 1919 while attempting to arrest two men poaching song birds in Van Cortlandt Park
.
Despite the objection of the New York City Police Department
, Commissioner Hennessy established the first Park Patrol Harbor unit when he obtained two small motor boats from the Navy which he immediately put into service and had park staff patrol the waterways of the Hutchinson River.
In 1922, Commissioner Henessy (through his annual report) requested the mayor to establish special magistrates to deal with park related violations the same day the violator was arrested, provide police authority to the parks commissioners (each borough had a commissioner), and provide funding for a park patrol unit because the New York City Police officers "detailed to the Bronx parks in the summer on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are not anxious to serve summonses or enforce the ordinances"
Despite these recommendations, no specific Parks Police was established until 1981, when the current agency was formed.
arrest
s, carry and use handcuffs, batons, and pepper spray
, use physical and deadly force, and issue summons
es under section 2.20 of the same law. However, officers are not armed with a firearm
.
NYC Urban Park Rangers are a separate division within the department, and although they do have peace officer powers through Special Patrolman status, their primary function is public education and resource related issues unlike the Parks Enforcement officers, who have a primary mission of law enforcement in the parks.
Rangers operate out of the city's seven nature centers and lead nature-oriented programs. Like PEP, they patrol in marked law enforcement vehicles. Rangers are also responsible for handling injured, abandoned, or displaced animals found in the city's parks.
NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol Mounted Auxiliary Unit is a volunteer unit within the department. This unit is made up of private citizens who volunteer their time by working with officers of the Parks Enforcement Patrol. Auxiliary officers patrol in full uniform and on horseback in various NYC parks, and "ensure the preservation of the natural and living resources in the city's parks, as well as the safety of those utilizing the parks, by maintaining a clearly visible presence. They monitor areas that are not accessible by vehicle; they deter, identify and report illegal or unsafe activities that require Parks Enforcement Patrol or police attention; and they advise the public on park rules and regulations." Auxiliary officers do not have powers beyond a citizen, can not make arrests, and can not carry defensive weapons, such as a firearm
, pepper spray
, or baton. Auxiliary officers are not used for law enforcement purposes, and if an Auxiliary officer sees a crime in progress, or is told about a crime, they are told to call for Parks Enforcement Patrol officers on their radio. In order to become Auxiliary officers, candidates must "undergo extensive training before going on patrol. Candidates for the unit must prove their riding skills and learn about PEP policies and procedures, use of radios and Parks rules and regulations before acceptance into the Unit and clearance to patrol."
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation
The City of New York Department of Parks & Recreation is the department of government of the City of New York responsible for maintaining the city's parks system, preserving and maintaining the ecological diversity of the city's natural areas, and furnishing recreational opportunities for city's...
maintains a specialized unit of full time and seasonal uniformed peace officers who enforce department rules and regulations, as well as New York State laws within the jurisdiction of 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...
parks. Established in 1981, NYC Parks Enforcement Patrol officers patrol on foot, horseback, patrol boat and in marked SUVs and trucks. Parks Enforcement officers are responsible for protecting NYC Park land, waterways under the jurisdiction of the Department of Parks and Recreation, city owned monuments, and public pools.
History
The concept of the Parks Enforcement Patrol was first thought of by Bronx Parks Commissioner Joe Hennessy, who reported in the "1919 Annual Report of the Department of Parks" the "necessity of a proper protective force" to be established. The following year in his 1920 annual report to the mayor, Commissioner Hennessy once again pushed for a full time park police force. On page 16 of the 1920 annual report he wrote that "Vandalism is ever present. It can never be checked until the Parks Department has a force of keepers with police authority" and he recommended that the "Park protectors should be under control of Park Commissioners absolutely". In 1920, legislature was passed for the creation of a force of park keepers for NYC parks but the city refused to approve it and authorize funding.In an effort to show the mayor the effectiveness of a park patrol force in hopes of a having a full time force established, Commissioner Hennessy created volunteer park inspectors (later called "Auxiliary Park Inspectors") to patrol the Bronx parks during the day. According to his "1919 annual report of the Department of Parks", the first park inspector he appointed was Inspector William Blackie. Inspector Blackie was injured on Columbus Day 1919 while attempting to arrest two men poaching song birds in Van Cortlandt Park
Van Cortlandt Park
Van Cortlandt Park is a park located in the Bronx in New York City. It is the fourth largest park in New York City, behind Pelham Bay Park, Flushing Meadows Park and Staten Island Greenbelt....
.
Despite the objection of the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The 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...
, Commissioner Hennessy established the first Park Patrol Harbor unit when he obtained two small motor boats from the Navy which he immediately put into service and had park staff patrol the waterways of the Hutchinson River.
In 1922, Commissioner Henessy (through his annual report) requested the mayor to establish special magistrates to deal with park related violations the same day the violator was arrested, provide police authority to the parks commissioners (each borough had a commissioner), and provide funding for a park patrol unit because the New York City Police officers "detailed to the Bronx parks in the summer on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays are not anxious to serve summonses or enforce the ordinances"
Despite these recommendations, no specific Parks Police was established until 1981, when the current agency was formed.
Power, Authority and Equipment
Parks Enforcement officers are designated as New York City Special Patrolmen and therefore have the status of New York State peace officers under NYS Criminal Procedure Law, Section 2.10. They may 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, carry and use handcuffs, batons, and 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...
, use physical and deadly force, and issue summons
Summons
Legally, a summons is a legal document issued by a court or by an administrative agency of government for various purposes.-Judicial summons:...
es under section 2.20 of the same law. However, officers are not armed with a 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...
.
Urban Park Rangers
Rangers operate out of the city's seven nature centers and lead nature-oriented programs. Like PEP, they patrol in marked law enforcement vehicles. Rangers are also responsible for handling injured, abandoned, or displaced animals found in the city's parks.
Mounted Auxiliary Unit
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...
, 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...
, or baton. Auxiliary officers are not used for law enforcement purposes, and if an Auxiliary officer sees a crime in progress, or is told about a crime, they are told to call for Parks Enforcement Patrol officers on their radio. In order to become Auxiliary officers, candidates must "undergo extensive training before going on patrol. Candidates for the unit must prove their riding skills and learn about PEP policies and procedures, use of radios and Parks rules and regulations before acceptance into the Unit and clearance to patrol."
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...
- 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...
- New York CityNew York CityNew 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...
- New York City Police Department Auxiliary Police