The New York City Department of Homeless Services Police (NYC DHS Police) is a law enforcement agency in New York City whose duties are to provide onsite security services to the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), and to enforce state and city laws at all facilities operated by the New York City Department of Homeless Services.
History
The New York City Department of Homeless Services was created in 1993 and made a mayoral agency in 1999. The Department of Homeless Services Police was started in 1997 with approximately 65 peace officers assigned to various DHS facilities. By 2002, the DHS Police had over 270 special officers at DHS facilities.
Prior to 1997, there were peace officers stationed at a facility named Camp Laguardia, which was a homeless shelter in Orange County, New York. This facility was run by the New York City Human Resources Administration prior to 1993 as were all other city operated homeless shelters. The HRA Police was the law enforcement agency at the facility. In 1993 the Department of Homeless Services was formed, All other city run shelters were using private security guards. Camp Laguardia had DHS Special officers assigned to it until it closed. In 1997 when it was observed how well and efficient it was to have special officers in city run shelters, DHS started placing special officers in other shelters it operated.
Ranks
DHS special officers begin service and training with the rank of Cadet. After completing peace officer training course and successfully completing various Academic, Physical tests, special officers graduate the DHS Entry Level Peace Officer academy at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and are sworn into the rank of Special Officer.
Facilities patrolled
Currently there are 23 facilities that the DHS Special Officers patrols, including single adult and family shelters.
Manhattan
- Charles Gay Wards Island â€" 3 Buildings including Charles Gay Assessment Center, Schwartz Men's Shelter and Clarke Thomas Next Step Employment Center
- 30th Street Intake For Homeless Men
- Jack Ryan BRC Shelter
- Teen Impact Center at the "Life" Family Shelter
- Ft. Washington Men's shelter
- Parkview Shelter
- New Providence
- Win West
- Boulevard - 124 & Lexington
Brooklyn
- Auburn Family Residence
- Atlantic Men's Assessment Center (Atlantic Armory)
- Help Women's Center (Brooklyn Women's Shelter)
- Kingsboro Star Men's Shelter
- McGuinness BRC Men's Shelter
- Flatlands Family Residence
- Starbright Family Residence
- Magnolia House Women shelter
- Renaissance Men's shelter
- Camba-Atlantic Men's shelter
- Tillary Women's shelter
- Myrtle Ave Men's Shelter
Bronx
- Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) Office
- Project Renewal Bronx Boulevard Men's Shelter
- Bronx Blvd Shelter.
- Willow Avenue Shelter.
Queens
- Jamaica Family Residence
Training
When the DHS special Officer was established, the training given to Special officers was a one-week peace officer training course. By June 2002, the training course was expanded to four weeks. The current training course is seven weeks long, of which four weeks of training is given at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, two weeks of training is given at the Department of Homeless Services headquarters in Manhattan, and one week of field training is given at Charles Gay Assessment Center located on Wards Island. The training course includes training in law, police science, powers of a peace officer, defensive tactics, community interaction, radio use, arrest procedures, and first aid/CPR, as well as rigorous physical fitness training that including push ups, squats, sit-ups,running and stair Climbs. Re-training is done on a continuous basis at John Jay College. DHS special officer are now under Control and string directive from the New York City police department.
NYC Department of Homeless Services (Special Officers) are NYS peace officers under New York State Criminal Procedure law, §2.10 Sub 40 which gives them limited powers to make warrantless arrests, issue criminal court summonses, and use physical force.
Vehicles
The New York City Department of Homeless Services Police currently utilizes marked vehicles in its fleet, Ford E-350 vans, Chevrolet Express vans,
Equipment
NYC Department of Homeless Services Special officers are not authorized the use of firearms as pre New York State law, though some officers and all Sergeants are equipped with a taser. Currently, all officers are equipped with an expandable baton, handcuffs, flashlight, reflective, bullet resistant vest, personal handheld metal detectors, OC Spray and a radio that is directly linked to other officers and in Specialized Units, the Dispatcher. Select special officers receive additional training and equipment and are placed in specialty units.
Union representing all Special Officers
New York City Special Officers, which include the DHS Police, the New York City Human Resources Administration Police Department, the New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Police (NYHP), and the New York City Police Department School Safety Division, are represented by Teamsters Local 237, a civil service employee labor union headed by President Gregory Floyd, a former NYHP Captain.
See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in New York
- Law enforcement in New York City
- Security police
References
External links
- NYC Department of Homeless Services Official Site
- Teamsters Local 237
- HOMELESS 'COPS' WOOED