New York State Police
Template:Short description Template:Infobox law enforcement agency
The New York State Police (NYSP) is the state police of the U.S. state of New York; it is part of the New York State Executive Department and employs over 5,000 sworn state troopers and 711 non-sworn members.
The New York State Police are responsible for patrolling state highways, rural communities, and providing law enforcement services across the state.
History
Establishment
A number of proposals to create a state police force occurred during the early 1900s, but faced considerable opposition from trade union interests. They feared the police would be used against union organizing, as was happening in several other states, particularly with the Coal and Iron Police in Pennsylvania.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
The New York State Police was established following the 1913 murder of Sam Howell, a construction foreman in Bedford, Westchester County, and failure of the local police to arrest suspects he had named before his death.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In March 1917, the New York State Legislature passed a bill to establish a state police force and appropriated $500,000 in funding.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The bill was signed into law on April 11, 1917 by New York Governor Charles Seymour Whitman.<ref name=":0" />
20th century
The division's first superintendent was George Fletcher Chandler, who was appointed by Governor Whitman. Chandler is credited with much of the division's early organization and development. Chandler coined the term "New York State Troopers." He was an early advocate of officers carrying their weapons exposed on a belt, which was not common practice at the time.Template:Citation needed
In 1920, the New York State Troopers had a conviction rate of 94.6 percent.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
On January 1, 1980, the Long Island State Parkway Police merged with the state police; this resulted in the official establishment of Troop L. In October 1997, the New York State Capital Police was consolidated and absorbed into the state police.
Since February 1994, the agency has accepted DNA evidence for forensic investigation and analysis. The New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center (FIC) opened in November 1996. The Crime Laboratory performs DNA analysis for state investigations and for local law enforcement. It includes a new DNA Data Bank Section that compiles DNA records from violent felons sentenced to prison in New York State. These records can be searched and compared by computer to other evidence collected in unsolved crimes.<ref name="history">[1], Troopers, NY</ref>
21st century
In December 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York State Park Police was to be merged with the New York State Police. The merger was expected to take about six months.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cuomo resigned in August 2021, and by January 2022, New York officials announced that the two police forces would remain separate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
From its establishment in 1917 until 2024, a total of 162 officers and 2 K9s have died in the line of duty.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Structure and organization
The NYSP divides New York state geographically into eleven "Troops," each comprising a specific geographic area, usually several counties. Each is supervised by a "Troop Commander" usually of the rank of Major.<ref>NYSP site http://www.troopers.ny.gov/Contact_Us/Troop_Information/</ref> NYSP Troops cover the following counties and regions as listed:
Each Troop encompasses 2–4 "Zones" which are referred to simply by a Zone number. There are up to several "sub-stations" located within each zone.
Ranks
| Insignia | Rank |
|---|---|
| File:US-O8 insignia.svg | Superintendent |
| File:US-O7 insignia.svg | First Deputy Superintendent |
| File:Colonel Silver.png | Colonel
(Deputy Superintendent) |
| File:US-O5 insignia.svg | Lieutenant Colonel
(Assistant Deputy Superintendent) |
| File:Colonel Gold-vector.svg | Staff Inspector |
| File:US-O4 insignia.svg | Major |
| File:US-O3 insignia.svg | Captain |
| File:US-O2 insignia.svg | Lieutenant |
| File:US-OF1B.svg | Technical Lieutenant |
| File:NYSP Chief Technical Sergeant Stripes.png | Chief Technical Sergeant |
| File:NYSP Staff Sergeant Stripes.png | Staff Sergeant |
| File:NYSP - 1st Sergeant Stripes.png | First Sergeant |
| No Insignia | Senior Investigator
(Plain Clothes) |
| File:NYSP Zone Sergeant Stripes.png | Zone Sergeant |
| File:NYSP Sergeant Station Commander Stripes.png | Sergeant Station Commander |
| File:NYSP Technical Sergeant Stripes.png | Technical Sergeant |
| File:NYSP Sergeant Stripes.png | Sergeant |
| No Insignia | Investigator
(Plain Clothes) |
| Trooper |
Uniforms
Trooper uniforms are made of grey wool, with the exception of the Gore-Tex jacket. Prior to 1958, uniforms (shirts, jackets and britches) were woven of equal parts white fiber and black fiber to symbolize the impartiality of justice.Template:Citation needed The NYSP do not wear a badge on their uniform shirts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Equipment
Current equipment
| Name | Type | Caliber | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glock 47 | Pistol | 9mm | Template:AUT | Equipped with Aimpoint Acro P2 & Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X weapon-mounted light. |
| Remington 870 | Shotgun | 12 Gauge | Template:USA | Standard Issue |
Previously issued equipment
- Glock 21 Gen 4 .45 ACP (2018–2024)
- Glock 37 .45 GAP (2007–2018)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Glock 17 9mm (1990–2007)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Smith & Wesson Model 681 .357 Magnum
- Smith & Wesson Model 13 .357 Magnum
- Smith & Wesson Model 10 .38 Special
Cameras
The New York State Police is one of only five state police agencies in the United States that does not equip its state police vehicles with dashboard cameras. New York State Troopers, as of April 5, 2021, have been receiving body-worn cameras.<ref name="AP">Template:Cite web</ref>
Aviation
The New York State Police has three Bell 407 single engine utility helicopters, six Bell 430 twin engine helicopters, three Bell UH-1 “HUEY 2” Single engine utility helicopters and one UH-1H “HUEY 1” Single engine utility helicopter. Their other aircraft are two Cessna 206 Stationair Single engine airplanes, one Cessna 172 Single engine airplane, one Partenavia 68 Twin engine observation airplane, one Sikorsky S-76 (used for transporting the governor), and two Beech King Air twin engine turboprop airplanes. All of these aircraft operate under the call sign “GrayRider”.<ref name="Aircraft troopers.ny">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2025, New York State Police placed an order for one Airbus H160 and three Airbus H145 helicopters, in addition to two Airbus H145 helicopters ordered in 2024.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- New York State Police Troop C scandal
- List of law enforcement agencies in New York
- New York State University Police
- State Police (United States)
- Highway Patrol
Notes
References
External links
- New York State Police website
- New York State Police in the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations
- NYSP Recruitment Center website
- Union representing Troopers and Supervisors
- Union representing Investigators
- Template:NYTtopic
Template:Commons category multi Template:SPHPbystate Template:Law enforcement in New York City