View source for New York State Police

{{Short description|State police agency serving New York}}
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname      = New York State Police
| nativename      =
| nativenamea     =
| nativenamer     =
| commonname      = New York State Troopers
| abbreviation    = NYSP
| fictional       =
| patch           = Patch of the New York State Police.png
| patchcaption    = Patch
| logo            = Seal of the New York State Police.svg
| logocaption     = Seal
| badge           = Badge of the New York State Police.png
| badgecaption    = Shield of New York State Police 
| flag            = Flag of New York.svg
| flagcaption     = Flag of the State of New York
| imagesize       =
| motto           = Excellence Through Knowledge 
| mottotranslated =
| mission         =
| formed          = {{Start date and age|1917|4|11}}
| preceding1      =
| dissolved       =
| superseding     =
| employees       = 5,711 (as of 2018)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy18archive/exec/agencyPresentations/appropData/StatePoliceDivisionof.html|title=NYS DOB: FY 2018 Executive Budget {{!}} Agency Appropriations {{!}} State Police, Division of|website=www.budget.ny.gov|language=en|access-date=2018-06-10}}</ref>
| volunteers      =
| budget          = $926,123,000 (2018)
| nongovernment   =
| country         = United States
| countryabbr     = U.S.
| national        =
| federal         =
| international   =
| divtype         = U.S. state{{!}}State
| divname         = New York
| subdivtype      =
| subdivname      =
| map             = NYSP - Troop Map.jpg
| mapcaption      = Troops of the New York State Police
| sizearea        = {{convert|54556|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}
| sizepopulation  = 19.4 million
| legaljuris      = State of New York
| governingbody   = New York State Executive Department
| governingbodyscnd =
| constitution1   =
| police          = Yes
| local           =
| military        =
| provost         =
| gendarmerie     =
| religious       =
| speciality      =
| secret          =
| overviewtype    =
| overviewbody    =
| headquarters    = Building 22 [[W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus]]<br />[[Albany, New York]], [[United States]]
| hqlocmap        =
| hqlocleft       =
| hqloctop        =
| hqlocmappoptitle =
| sworntype       = Trooper
| sworn           = {{increase}} 5,034 (''2025'')<ref>{{cite web | title=176 New State Troopers Include Local Graduates | date=6 February 2025 | url=https://www.wktv.com/news/education/176-new-state-troopers-include-local-graduates/article_988c36ec-e4be-11ef-842e-2f393a0ad3e4.html }}</ref>
| unsworntype     = Non-sworn members
| unsworn         = 711 
| multinational   =
| electeetype     =
| minister1name   =
| minister1pfo    = Governor of New York (Commander-in-Chief)
| chief1position  = [[Superintendent (police)|Superintendent]]
| chief1name      = Steven G. James| parentagency    =
| child1agency    =
| unittype        =
| unitname        =
| officetype      =
| officename      =
| provideragency  =
| uniformedas     =
| stationtype     = Troop
| stations        = 11
| airbases        =
| lockuptype      =
| lockups         =
| vehicle1type    =
| vehicles1       =
| boat1type       =
| boats1          =
| aircraft1type   =
| aircraft1       =
| animal1type     =
| animals1        =
| person1name     =
| person1reason   =
| person1type     =
| programme1      =
| activity1name   =
| activitytype    =
| anniversary1    =
| award1          =
| website         = [http://www.troopers.ny.gov/ Official Site]
| footnotes       =
| reference       =
}}

The '''New York State Police''' ('''NYSP''') is the [[State police (United States)|state police]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[New York (state)|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==
[[File:Maj. Geo. F. Chandler.jpg|thumb |[[George Fletcher Chandler]], the first Superintendent of the New York State Police]]

=== 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>{{Cite book |last=Van de Water |first=Frederic Franklyn |url=http://archive.org/details/greyridersstory00wategoog |title=Grey riders : the story of the New York state troopers |date=1922 |publisher=New York : Putnam's Sons |others=University of Michigan |page=28}}</ref>  

The New York State Police was established following the 1913 murder of Sam Howell, a construction foreman in Bedford, [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County]], and failure of the local police to arrest suspects he had named before his death.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Howell Murder |url=https://troopers.ny.gov/sam-howell-murder |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=New York State Police |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sam Howell Remembered |url=https://troopers.ny.gov/sam-howell-remembered |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=New York State Police |language=en}}</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">{{Cite web |title=The Wells-Mills Bill |url=https://troopers.ny.gov/wells-mills-bill |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=New York State Police |language=en}}</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.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}

In 1920, the New York State Troopers had a conviction rate of 94.6 percent.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Van de Water |first=Frederic Franklyn |url=http://archive.org/details/greyridersstory00wategoog |title=Grey riders : the story of the New York state troopers |date=1922 |publisher=New York : Putnam's Sons |others=University of Michigan}}</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">[https://www.troopers.ny.gov/Introduction/History/1990s/], 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>{{cite web |last1=Slattery |first1=Denis |title=Gov. Cuomo says New York State Police will absorb State Park Police Officers in union-backed move |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/ny-new-york-state-troopers-police-park-enforcement-officers-unions-20191203-joqpz42j6nefnjeyqkk6g4nthm-story.html |website=nydailynews.com|date=3 December 2019 }}</ref> Cuomo resigned in August 2021, and by January 2022, New York officials announced that the two police forces would remain separate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Officials: New York State park police, troopers to stay separate |url=https://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/new-york-state-parks-police-troopers-u48866 |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Newsday |date=25 January 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

From its establishment in 1917 until 2024, a total of 162 officers and 2 K9s have died in the line of duty.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New York State Police, NY |url=https://www.odmp.org/agency/2768-new-york-state-police-new-york |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=The Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP)}}</ref>

==Structure and organization==
[[File:New York State Police, Guilderland, New York.jpg|thumb|New York State Police building, [[Guilderland, New York]]]]
[[File:NY-SP Chevy Tahoe on MVA.jpg|thumb|right|NY State Police unit at the scene of a motor vehicle collision, Delaware County, New York]]
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:

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left; font-size:100%;"
|-
!Troop
!Region(s) Covered
!Counties Covered
|-
| '''A'''
| [[Buffalo Niagara Region]]<br />[[Eastern Great Lakes and Hudson Lowlands (ecoregion)|Eastern]] [[Great Lakes]] [[Great Lakes region|Region]]<br />[[Finger Lakes]]<br />[[Genesee Valley]]<br />[[Western New York]]<br />Western [[Southern Tier]]
| [[Allegany County, New York|Allegany]], [[Cattaraugus County, New York|Cattaraugus]], [[Chautauqua County, New York|Chautauqua]], [[Erie County, New York|Erie]], [[Genesee County, New York|Genesee]], [[Niagara County, New York|Niagara]], [[Orleans County, New York|Orleans]], [[Wyoming County, New York|Wyoming]]'
|-
| '''B'''
| [[Adirondack Mountains]]<br />[[Champlain Valley]]<br />[[North Country (New York)|North Country]]<br />[[Thousand Islands]]
| [[Clinton County, New York|Clinton]], [[Essex County, New York|Essex]], [[Franklin County, New York|Franklin]], [[Hamilton County, New York|Upper Hamilton]], [[St. Lawrence County, New York|St. Lawrence]]
|-
| '''C'''
| [[Catskill Mountains]]<br />[[Central New York]] [[Central New York Region|Region]]<br />Eastern Southern Tier<br />Finger Lakes<br />[[Mohawk Valley region]]<br />[[Penn-York Valley]]
|[[Broome County, New York|Broome]], [[Chenango County, New York|Chenango]], [[Cortland County, New York|Cortland]], [[Delaware County, New York|Delaware]], [[Otsego County, New York|Otsego]], [[Tioga County, New York|Tioga]], [[Tompkins County, New York|Tompkins]]
|-
| '''D'''
| Central New York<br />Mohawk Valley region<br />North Country<br />[[Tug Hill]]
| [[Herkimer County, New York|Herkimer]], [[Jefferson County, New York|Jefferson]], [[Lewis County, New York|Lewis]], [[Madison County, New York|Madison]], [[Oneida County, New York|Oneida]], [[Onondaga County, New York|Onondaga]], [[Oswego County, New York|Oswego]]
|-
| '''E'''
| Central Southern Tier<br />Eastern Great Lakes Region<br />Finger Lakes<br />Genesee Valley<br />Western New York
| [[Cayuga County, New York|Cayuga]], [[Chemung County, New York|Chemung]], [[Livingston County, New York|Livingston]], [[Monroe County, New York|Monroe]], [[Ontario County, New York|Ontario]], [[Schuyler County, New York|Schuyler]], [[Seneca County, New York|Seneca]], [[Steuben County, New York|Steuben]], [[Wayne County, New York|Wayne]], [[Yates County, New York|Yates]]
|-
| '''F'''
| Catskill Mountains<br />[[Hudson Valley|Hudson Valley (west)]] and [[Hudson Highlands|Highlands]]<br />[[New York metropolitan area]]
| [[Greene County, New York|Greene]], [[Orange County, New York|Orange]], [[Rockland County, New York|Rockland]], [[Sullivan County, New York|Sullivan]], [[Ulster County, New York|Ulster]]
|-
| '''G'''
| Adirondack Mountains<br />[[Capital District, New York|Capital District]]
| [[Albany County, New York|Albany]], [[Fulton County, New York|Fulton]], [[Hamilton County, New York|Lower Hamilton]], [[Montgomery County, New York|Montgomery]], [[Rensselaer County, New York|Rensselaer]], [[Saratoga County, New York|Saratoga]], [[Schenectady County, New York|Schenectady]], [[Schoharie County, New York|Schoharie]], [[Warren County, New York|Warren]], [[Washington County, New York|Washington]]
|-
| '''K'''
| Hudson Valley (east) and Highlands<br />New York metropolitan area
| [[Columbia County, New York|Columbia]], [[Dutchess County, New York|Dutchess]], [[Putnam County, New York|Putnam]], [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester]]
|-
| '''L'''
| [[Long Island]]<br />New York metropolitan area
| [[Nassau County, New York|Nassau]], [[Suffolk County, New York|Suffolk]]
|-
| '''NYC'''
| Long Island<br />[[New York City]]<br />New York metropolitan area
| New York City ([[The Bronx|Bronx]], [[Brooklyn|Kings (Brooklyn)]], [[Manhattan|New York (Manhattan)]], [[Staten Island|Richmond (Staten Island)]], [[Queens]])
|-
| '''T'''
| Capital District<br />Catskills<br />Central New York<br />Finger Lakes<br />Hudson Valley (west)<br />New York metropolitan area<br />Western New York
| [[New York State Thruway]], ([[Interstate 84 in New York|Interstate 84]], 1991–2010)<ref name="DOT takeover story">{{cite news |last=Rife |first=Judy |title=DOT takes over maintenance on I-84 |url=http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101011/BIZ/10110316 |newspaper=Times Herald-Record |location=Middletown, NY |date=October 11, 2010 |access-date=October 13, 2010 |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616200306/http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101011/BIZ/10110316 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{refn|group=notes|NYSP Troop T was responsible for protecting Interstate 84 from 1991 to 2010 because the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) maintained Interstate 84. However, due to the transfer of maintenance from NYSTA back to the NYSDOT in October 2010, NYSP Troop T no longer patrols Interstate 84 as patrolling duties were reassigned to Troop F and Troop K.}}
|}

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===
{| class="wikitable"
!Insignia
!Rank
|-
|[[File:US-O8 insignia.svg|80px]]
|Superintendent
|-
|[[File:US-O7 insignia.svg|40px]]
|First Deputy Superintendent
|-
|[[File:Colonel Silver.png|70px]]
|Colonel
(Deputy Superintendent)
|-
|[[File:US-O5 insignia.svg|40px]]
|Lieutenant Colonel 
(Assistant Deputy Superintendent)
|-
|[[File:Colonel Gold-vector.svg|70px]]
|Staff Inspector
|-
|[[File:US-O4 insignia.svg|40px]]
|Major
|-
|[[File:US-O3 insignia.svg|50px]]
|Captain
|-
|[[File:US-O2 insignia.svg|20px]]
|Lieutenant
|-
|[[File:US-OF1B.svg|20px]]
|Technical Lieutenant
|-
|[[File:NYSP Chief Technical Sergeant Stripes.png|50px]]
|Chief Technical Sergeant
|-
|[[File:NYSP Staff Sergeant Stripes.png|50px]]
|Staff Sergeant
|-
|[[File:NYSP - 1st Sergeant Stripes.png|50px]]
|First Sergeant
|-
|'''''No Insignia'''''
|Senior Investigator
(Plain Clothes)
|-
|[[File:NYSP Zone Sergeant Stripes.png|50px]]
|Zone Sergeant
|-
|[[File:NYSP Sergeant Station Commander Stripes.png|50px]]
|Sergeant Station Commander
|-
|[[File:NYSP Technical Sergeant Stripes.png|50px]]
|Technical Sergeant
|-
|[[File:NYSP Sergeant Stripes.png|50px]]
|Sergeant
|-
| rowspan="2" |''No Insignia''
|Investigator
(Plain Clothes)
|-
|Trooper
|}

==Uniforms==
[[File:NYSP at St Pat Parade 2023 jeh.jpg|thumb|252x252px|NYSP during a parade]]
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.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} The NYSP do not wear a badge on their uniform shirts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ultimate Guide to the State Police Uniforms of All 50 States |url=https://wizardpins.com/en-ca/blogs/blog/the-ultimate-guide-to-the-state-police-uniforms-of-all-50-states |access-date=2025-09-26 |website=WizardPins |language=en}}</ref>

== Equipment ==
===Current equipment===
{|class=wikitable border="0" width="90%"
! width="15%"| Name
! width="20%"| Type
! width="7%"| Caliber
! width="20%"| Origin
! Notes
|-
| [[Glock 47]] || Pistol || [[9×19mm Parabellum|9mm]]|| {{AUT}} || Equipped with Aimpoint Acro P2 & Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X weapon-mounted light.
|-
| [[Remington 870]] || Shotgun || [[Gauge (bore diameter)|12 Gauge]] || {{USA}} || Standard Issue
|}

===Previously issued equipment===
* [[Glock 21]] Gen 4 [[.45 ACP]] (2018–2024) 
* [[Glock 37]] [[.45 GAP]] (2007–2018)<ref>{{cite web |title=Glock 37 |url=https://troopers.ny.gov/glock-37 |website=New York State Police |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Glock 17]] [[9×19mm Parabellum|9mm]] (1990–2007)<ref>{{cite web |title=Switch to Semi-Automatic Pistol |url=https://troopers.ny.gov/switch-semi-automatic-pistol |website=New York State Police |language=en}}</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">{{cite web |date=23 July 2019 |title=N.Y. State Police lag behind agencies nationwide |url=https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2019/07/23/ny-state-police-lag-behind-agencies-nationwide/ |access-date=19 September 2019 |work=Sentinel and Enterprise |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

=== Aviation ===
[[File:StatePoliceHelicopter-nyc-2020.png|thumb|New York State Police helicopter parked at a helipad in New York City 2020]]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">{{cite web |title=Current Equipment |url=https://www.troopers.ny.gov/Specialized_Services/Aviation/Current_Equipment/ |website=New York State Police |access-date=15 February 2019}}</ref> In 2025, New York State Police placed an order for one [[Airbus Helicopters H160|Airbus H160]] and three [[H145|Airbus H145]] helicopters, in addition to two Airbus H145 helicopters ordered in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-12 |title=New York State Police orders Airbus H160 and three H145 helicopters {{!}} Airbus |url=https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-03-new-york-state-police-orders-airbus-h160-and-three-h145-helicopters |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=www.airbus.com |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|New York (state)}}
*[[New York State Police Troop C scandal]]
* [[List of law enforcement agencies in New York (state)|List of law enforcement agencies in New York]]
*[[New York State University Police]]
*[[State Police#United States|State Police (United States)]]
*[[Highway Patrol]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=notes}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.troopers.ny.gov/ New York State Police website]
**[http://www.troopers.ny.gov/Introduction/History/ In-depth NYSP history]
* [https://govt.westlaw.com/nycrr/Browse/Home/NewYork/NewYorkCodesRulesandRegulations?guid=Ia47e1a20b72a11ddba5e846354f3a78d&originationContext=documenttoc&transitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default) New York State Police] in the [[New York Codes, Rules and Regulations]]
*[http://www.nytrooper.com/ NYSP Recruitment Center website]
*[http://www.nystpba.org/ Union representing Troopers and Supervisors]
*[http://www.nyspia.org/ Union representing Investigators]
*{{NYTtopic|organizations/n/new_york_state_police}}
{{Commons category multi|New York State Police}}
{{SPHPbystate}}
{{Law enforcement in New York City}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:State law enforcement agencies of New York (state)]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 1917]]