New York City Sheriff's Office
| New York City Sheriff's Office | |
|---|---|
| File:New York City Sheriff' Office.jpg | |
| Shield of the New York City Sheriff's Office Shield of the New York City Sheriff's Office | |
| Motto | New York's First |
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1626 |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | New York, New York, USA |
 | |
| Map of New York City Sheriff's Office's jurisdiction | |
| Size | 1,214.4 km² |
| Population | 8,274,527 |
| Legal jurisdiction | New York state |
| Operational structure | |
| Deputy Sheriffs | 150 |
| Agency executive |
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| Units | List
|
| Facilities | |
| County Field Offices | 5
List
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| Website | |
| Official Site | |
The New York City Sheriff's Office is the civil law enforcement division of the New York City Department of Finance.[1] 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.[2] Deputy sheriffs carry out the duties of the sheriff's office.
The New York City Sheriff is the chief civil law enforcement officer for the City of New York. Responsibilities of deputy sheriffs include revenue collections in civil situations; collecting funds or making arrests for parents in arrears of child-support payments; and collecting on judicial judgments, and parking or moving violations. They handle enforcement judgments for both small claims and supreme court (criminal court). Such responsibilities may involve collection of unpaid taxes, enforcement of unpaid environmental fines, seizure of property and evictions. The sheriff also may sell real estate and personal property to satisfy judgments, and perform civil arrests. The sheriff's office has also become involved with cigarette-tax enforcement as well as assisting the NYC Department of Buildings in enforcing stop work orders. In addition, the sheriff sells vehicles not recovered by their owners, checks towed vehicles to determine if they are stolen, and enforces court judgments through a variety of programs.
History
The New York City Sheriff's Office was created in 1626. The sheriff in each borough was the law enforcement agency with the widest jurisdiction until the New York City consolidation in 1898 when the New York City Police Department took over responsibility for criminal investigations.
The city sheriff was reorganized as the Office of the Sheriff of the City of New York, effective 1 January 1942. The city's five county sheriffs were abolished and replaced with borough "chief deputy" (later Undersheriff) divisions reporting to the now mayorally-appointed city-wide sheriff. A contemporary report of the changes emphasized professionalization of the office, which had become notorious for employing political patronage beneficiaries. The new top five commanders were "all college graduates" and "lawyers like their chief, who promises to keep out politics".[3] At the same time, the sheriff's former responsibility for running prisons was transferred to the newly established New York City Department of Correction.[4]
Prisons maintained by the NYC Sheriff
Prior to the merger into one department, the sheriffs departments were responsible for maintaining the city jails and maintained custody over all inmates sentenced or awaiting trial for criminal cases. In 1941, The NYC Charter was amended by public referendum votes to transfer custodial duties of inmates in criminal cases to the New York City Department of Corrections.
Chain of command
The sheriff's office has a chain of command that is similar to that of police departments and military organizations:[5]
| Title | Insignia | Uniform Shirt Color |
|---|---|---|
| Sheriff |  |
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| First Deputy Sheriff |  |
|
| Chief of Staff | |
|
| Undersheriff |  |
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| Chief Investigator | |
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| Lieutenant |  |
|
| Sergeant |  |
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| Deputy Sheriff |  |
The current sheriff is Edgar A. Domenech.[6] He was appointed to the position of sheriff by mayor Michael Bloomberg in January 2011. Sheriff Domenech is a retired Deputy Director from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after 26 years of service.
Diversity of work performed
All law enforcement duties executed in the name of the sheriff are performed by deputy sheriffs. Because of the highly diverse law enforcement duties deputy sheriffs encounter, deputy sheriffs are cross trained in many areas of criminal law and civil law. The deputy sheriff can be considered the "jack of all trades" law enforcement officer. It is not unusual for a deputy sheriff to perform work similar to a police officer, correction officer, court officer, investigator, lawyer, and auctioneer all in one day. Because of the diversity in tasks a deputy sheriff must face, the requirements for deputy sheriff are one of the most stringent in comparison with other law enforcement positions available in the city and state.
In order to be hired, candidates must first pass a civil service entrance examination and meet strong educational requirements.
Units
County field offices/law enforcement bureau
By law, the sheriff must maintain an office in each of the five counties of New York City. Deputy sheriffs assigned to these offices perform a variety of tasks such as executing arrest process (such as warrants of arrest), orders to commit, and mental hygiene warrants. Deputies also execute eviction process, service process, and the enforcement, seizure, and sale of property pursuant to judicial mandates. The county offices function like a police precinct, giving citizens of the county a local place to file court process in need of enforcement.
Patrol Unit
Deputy sheriffs assigned to this unit perform patrol functions, searching the city streets with court mandates in order to seize vehicles for unpaid parking and moving violations, and issuing summonses to vehicles in violation of New York City traffic ordinances and New York State vehicle and traffic laws. This unit provides a law enforcement presence on the city streets, and the public calls upon them to help preserve order. This assistance can include: summoning emergency medical service; preventing and terminating crimes in progress or about to be committed; and any other peacekeeping function necessary to maintain law and order.
Warrants Unit
Deputy sheriffs assigned to this unit serve legal process such as summonses and subpoenas for family court offenses as well as arresting and jailing individuals pursuant to family court warrants of arrest and commitment. In addition, the warrants unit is sometimes called upon by other units to assist in arrests of a difficult or dangerous nature.
Mental Health Enforcement Unit (aka Kendra's Unit)
This unit enforces Kendra's Law, named after Kendra Webdale, who was pushed onto the subway tracks by a mentally ill man in 1999. Kendra's law provides a procedure for the removal of a patient, subject to a court order, to a hospital for evaluation and observation. In cases where the patient fails to comply with the ordered treatment and poses risk of harm, this unit will locate, detain, and transport the patient.
Auto Theft Unit
This unit works in conjunction with the patrol unit identifying stolen cars seized by the sheriff. This unit also works closely with the various district attorney's offices in other counties outside New York City in making arrests and combating automobile theft. In 2006, the New York City Sheriff's office recovered more stolen automobiles than any other law enforcement agency in New York State.[7]
Auction Unit
This unit conducts judicial sales of vehicles seized by the sheriff. Deputies maintain order at large sales where hundreds of bidders may be present, and they safeguard and protect property seized, and proceeds.
Seizure Unit
Deputy sheriffs in this unit conduct high profile investigations and property seizures under court order. Businesses and individuals that owe the city money pursuant to unpaid city tax warrants, environmental control board summons, and fire and health code violations and fines, are targeted for enforcement action by this unit.
Power and authority
Deputy sheriffs are New York State peace officers authorized to make warrantless arrests, carry and use handcuffs, carry and use a firearm, use physical and deadly force, and issue summonses. Per the Criminal Procedure Law, deputies have peace officer status on and off duty.[8]
Equipment, uniforms, and vehicles
Deputy sheriffs wear a navy blue shirt, navy blue pants, and a eight-point hat when in patrol uniform. They wear a navy blue shirt, navy blue pants, a navy blue serge jacket, and a navy blue stetson when in class A uniform.
Deputy sheriffs are equipped with a firearm, can of pepper spray, expandable baton, handcuffs, and a flashlight.
Currently, the sheriff's office vehicle fleet is made up of Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors, vans, Nissan Altimas and Ford Fusions. They are currently painted white with blue and gold decals, whilst older vehicles have red decals and will be in service for the near future.[9] They also use unmarked police cars of various models.
Service pistol
Deputy sheriffs are authorized to carry the 9mm Glock 19 as their service pistol.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the sheriff’s offices in the 5 counties of New York City, 6 deputies have died in the line of duty.[10]
| Officer | Department | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deputy Sheriff Henry Wendelstorf | Queens County Sheriff's Department, NY | Assault | |
| Sheriff Paul Stier | Queens County Sheriff's Department, NY | Gunfire | |
| Keeper Morris Broderson | Bronx County Sheriff's Office, NY | Gunfire | |
| Keeper Daniel D. Horgan | Bronx County Sheriff's Office, NY | Gunfire | |
| Deputy Sheriff John T. Miller | Queens County Sheriff's Department, NY | Automobile accident | |
| Deputy Sheriff Fred D'Amore | Queens County Sheriff's Department, NY | Automobile accident |
See also
References
- ^ New York City Department of Finance page http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/services/services_enforcement.shtml
- ^ N.Y. Constitution, Article 13, section 13. See [1] (pdf) at p. 41; see also [2] (html).
- ^ "McCLOSKEY PICKS HIS 5 CHIEF AIDES". New York Times. 2 January 1942. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ McKinley, Jesse. "F.Y.I.", The New York Times, November 27, 1994. Accessed January 21, 2008. "Established in 1626, the Sheriff's office in Manhattan and its equivalents in the other boroughs served as a major part of the patchwork of law-enforcement agencies that existed before the city's consolidation in 1898. After that, the new New York City Police Department took over the responsibility for criminal investigations and arrests. As recently as 1942, the sheriff was also responsible for manning and administering the city's jails, a duty now carried by the Department of Correction. Today, the sheriff's primary duties are enforcing court-ordered judgments and fines, including unpaid parking tickets and littering fines, and collecting judgments from reluctant losers in private lawsuits, said John George, the Sheriff's executive assistant. "
- ^ New York City Deputy Sheriff's Association
- ^ Edgar A. Domenech Named New York City Sheriff
- ^ New York State Assembly bill A01525 memo
- ^ New York City Deputy Sheriff's Association
- ^ [3] [4]
- ^ The Officer Down Memorial Page
External links
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