New York City Sheriff's Office
The New York City Sheriff's Office, officially the Office of the Sheriff of the City of New York, is the primary civil law enforcement agency for New York City. The Sheriff's Office is a division of the New York City Department of Finance, operating as an enforcement arm. As the city's chief civil law enforcement agency concerning the New York State Court System, the Sheriff's Office enforces a variety of mandates, orders, warrants and decrees issued by courts. Enforcement tools include evictions, seizure of property, arrests and garnishments. Auctions are conducted for property the agency seizes and levies upon.
The Sheriff's Office also handles criminal investigations concerning cigarette tax enforcement, real property/deed fraud, synthetic narcotics sales and other matters deemed necessary by the Department of Finance. During the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, the agency's responsibilities have also included enforcement of social distancing guidelines at large informal gatherings of people in violation of state and local laws, regulations, and executive orders.
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. The sheriff is the chief civil enforcement officer for the City of New York, and automatically holds the position of deputy commissioner in the Department of Finance. The sheriff holds jurisdiction over all five county-boroughs within the city, with a subordinate undersheriff in charge of each one. Deputy sheriffs and criminal investigators of various ranks carry out the daily law enforcement duties of the Sheriff's Office.
History
The New York City Sheriff's Office originated in 1626 under the Dutch. Under later English rule, the position became known as the New York County Sheriff's Office. Originally each of the city's five county-boroughs had their own sheriff, each of which held the widest law enforcement jurisdiction in their respective county-boroughs. Like most sheriffs in the United States, these office holders were elected to their positions. Once the city was consolidated in 1898, the New York City Police Department took over the responsibility of policing and criminal investigations throughout New York City, while the Sheriff's Office continued to focus on civil law enforcement and administering the county prison systems. Sheriffs were compensated by charging fees for enforcing civil orders in addition to keeping a monetary percentage of what their office would seize. By 1915, plans were made by the Commissioner of Accounts to alter the way sheriffs were compensated to include a determined salary instead of having the office holder personally retain fees and poundage. Although fees and poundage would still be charged by sheriffs, the monies would be retained for their respective county's use only. In 1938, the first female deputy sheriff was appointed.On January 1, 1942, each of the city's five county sheriff's offices were merged to become the Office of the Sheriff of the City of New York. The city's five county sheriffs were abolished and replaced with borough "chief deputies" reporting to the now mayorally-appointed citywide 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". At the same time, the sheriff's former responsibility for running prison systems was transferred to the newly established New York City Department of Correction.
Chain of command
| Title | Insignia | Badge Design | Uniform Shirt Color |
| Sheriff | Medallion with eagle and four stars | ||
| First Deputy Sheriff | Medallion with eagle and three stars | ||
| Chief of Staff | Medallion with eagle and three stars | ||
| Undersheriff | Medallion with eagle and two stars | ||
| Deputy Sheriff - Lieutenant | Medallion with Rank | ||
| Deputy Sheriff - Sergeant | Shield with eagle | ||
| Deputy Sheriff | Shield |
In order to be appointed as deputies, candidates must first pass a civil service entrance examination and meet strong educational/experiential requirements. Candidates must also pass medical and psychological examinations, physical ability tests, and a full background investigation. In addition to deputy sheriffs, the Sheriff's Office employs sworn criminal investigators and an assortment of civilian support personnel.
As of June 2014, Joseph Fucito was appointed the 121st Sheriff of the City of New York. Sheriff Fucito has over 25 years of experience in the New York City Sheriff's Office, and came up through the ranks of deputy sheriff. He has commanded a wide variety of units and county offices, and also served as acting sheriff two separate times before his official appointment to sheriff.
Uniform of the Sheriff's Office is a typical NYC law enforcement agent's uniform, with a dark blue shirt with metal badge and collar pins, dark blue trousers, tie, jacket and peaked cap. The Field Support Unit wears a less formal version without metal badges and pins, and with writing on their shirts and jackets. A variety of vests, gloves and other appropriate gear for the season/duty can be worn.
Operational structure
The New York City Sheriff's Office is composed of three sections: Operations, Intelligence, and Support.Operations Section
The Operations Section is composed of the five county field offices and certain units working citywide. Within the county field offices, deputy sheriffs assigned to civil enforcement duties are referenced as Law Enforcement Bureau personnel. LEB deputies perform a wide array of tasks such as evictions, warrants of arrest, orders to commit, and the seizure and sale of property pursuant to judicial mandates. Businesses and individuals that owe the city money pursuant to unpaid tax warrants, environmental control board summons and fire and health code violation fines are targeted for enforcement action. LEB deputies also serve a wide variety of legal process, with orders of protection considered a priority. Each county field office is complemented by civilian support staff to assist in daily administrative functions and customer service. These field offices are accessible to the public, giving citizens of the county/borough a local place to file court process in need of enforcement. Deputies of the Operations Section may be assigned to duties separate from the LEB, either within a county field office or citywide. These duties include arrests and apprehensions on behalf of other non-law enforcement city agencies such as the Human Resources Administration, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Administration for Children's Services. Deputies may be assigned to scofflaw enforcement or security duties at the city treasury. The Operations Section will also provide deputies for any other assignment as deemed necessary by the agency.
Intelligence Section
The Intelligence Section is composed of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Intelligence Unit. The BCI investigates city tax violation, real property larceny/deed fraud, synthetic narcotic enforcement and other offenses against the Department of Finance. The Intelligence Unit collects, analyzes, and disseminates information from various sources to be readily available for agency use.
Support Section
The Support Section handles communications, property disposition, evidence destruction and field support services for the agency.
Power and authority
Deputy sheriffs and criminal investigators are New York State peace officers with authority to make warrantless arrests, issue summonses, carry and use a firearm, batons, pepper spray, handcuffs, and use physical and deadly force. Deputy sheriffs receive their peace officer status pursuant to the New York State Criminal Procedure Law §2.10 subdivision 2, while criminal investigators receive their peace officer status from CPL §2.10 subdivision 5.Deputy sheriffs are also civil enforcement officers with authority to enforce the New York State Civil Practice Law and Rules concerning civil procedure.
Special Officers
The Sheriff's office also employs Special Officers who support the deputy sheriffs and criminal investigators. Their uniform patch is similar to the NYPD's School Safety and Traffic Enforcement divisions, with "PUBLIC SAFETY" over the top of the Sheriff patch, to distinguish them from sworn deputies.The Sheriff Special Officers work as part of the team of sheriff's deputies & detectives and perform bailiff functions and protect the NYC Finance Administrative Hearings Tribunals.
Ranks
- Special Officer.
- Special Officer Sergeant.
Fallen officers
| Officer | Department | Date of Death | Details |
| Deputy Sheriff Isaac Smith | Bronx County Sheriff's Office | Gunfire | |
| Deputy Sheriff Henry Wendelstorf | Queens County Sheriff's Department | Assault | |
| Sheriff Paul Stier | Queens County Sheriff's Department | Gunfire | |
| Keeper Morris Broderson | Bronx County Sheriff's Office | Gunfire | |
| Keeper Daniel D. Horgan | Bronx County Sheriff's Office | Gunfire | |
| Deputy Sheriff John T. Miller | Queens County Sheriff's Department | Automobile accident | |
| Deputy Sheriff Fred D'Amore | Queens County Sheriff's Department | Automobile accident |
Historical sheriffs
New York City
Effective January 1, 1942, one citywide sheriff began serving all five counties within the City of New York. The following is a list of the citywide sheriffs since the original five county positions were merged. The position is appointed by the Mayor of New York City.| Order | Name | Term | Notes and references |
| 106 | John J. McCloskey | 1942-1971 | He was the first to serve all five counties. |
| 107 | H. William Kehl | 1971-1973 | |
| 108 | Joseph P. Brennan | 1973-1974 | |
| 109 | Frederick Weinberger | 1974-1975 | Acting sheriff |
| 110 | Edward A. Pichler | 1975-1987 | |
| 111 | Vincent M. Pharao | 1987-1989 | |
| 112 | Harry Weisberg | 1989-1990 | Acting sheriff |
| 113 | Philip A. Crimaldi | 1990-1994 | |
| 114 | Kerry Katsorhis | 1994-1995 | |
| 115 | Raul Russi | 1995-1996 | |
| 116 | Teresa Mason | 1996-2000 | First female to serve as sheriff of New York City |
| 117 | Henry Coira | 2001-2001 | Acting sheriff |
| 118 | Caliph T. Mathis | 2001-2002 | |
| 119 | Lindsay Eason | 2002-2010 | |
| 120 | Joseph Fucito | 2010-2011 | Acting sheriff |
| 121 | Edgar A. Domenech | 2011-2014 | He was the 121st Sheriff of New York City including acting sheriffs in the count. "Mr. Domenech will become the city’s 117th sheriff and will oversee a staff of 174 employees, including 118 deputy sheriffs, and an annual budget of $16 million." |
| 122 | Joseph Fucito | 2014-present |
Kings County
| Name | Term | Notes and references |
| Sheriff Stillwell | 1683-1685 | Term began in October |
| Roeloff Martense | 1685-1686 | Term began in October |
| Gerrit Strycker | 1686-1690 | Term began in October |
| Myndert Coerten | 1690-1691 | Term began on December 13, 1690 |
| Gerrit Strycker | 1691-1694 | Term began on March 21, 1691 |
| Jacobus Kiersted | 1694-1698 | Term began on May 24, 1694 |
| Englebert Lott | 1698-1699 | Term began in October |
| John Elbertson | 1699-1700 | Term began in October |
| Benjamin Vandewater | 1700-1702 | October |
| Richard Stillwell | 1702-1715 | October |
| Benjamin Vandewater | 1715-1717 | October. This was his second non-consecutive term. |
| Tunis Lott | 1717-1730 | October |
| Dominicus Vanderveer | 1730-1736 | October. This was his second non-consecutive term. |
| Peter Strycker | 1736-1738 | October |
| Dominicus Vanderveer | 1738-1740 | Term started on February 24, 1738 |
| Jacobus Ryder | 1740-1754 | October |
| Maurice Lott | 1754-1762 | October |
| Rem Vanderbilt | 1762-1763 | October |
| Jeremiah Vanderbilt | 1763-1766 | October |
| Nicholas Couwenhoven | 1766 | Term began in October |
| Alexander Forbush | 1766-1767 | Term started on November 24, 1766 |
| Rutger Van Brunt | 1767-1784 | Term began in October |
| William Boerum | 1784-1785 | Term began on February 4 |
| Peter Vandervoort | 1785-1788 | Term began on September 28 |
| Charles Turnbull | 1788-1791 | Term began on December 29 |
| John Vanderveer | 1791-1793 | Term began on March 8 |
| Cornelius Bergen | 1793-1797 | Term began on February 18, 1793 |
| Peter S. Cortelyou | 1797-1800 | Term began on February 7, 1797 |
| Cornelius Bergen | 1800-1804 | Term began on February 17, 1800 |
| John Schoonmaker | 1804-1807 | Term began on February 16 |
| Benjamin Birdsall | 1807-1810 | Term began on March 9 |
| John Dean | 1810-1811 | Term began on February 26, 1810. |
| Abiel Titus | 1811 | Term began on February 5 |
| William D. Creed | 1811-1813 | Term began on June 5 |
| John Dean | 1813-1815 | Term began on March 23 |
| Lawrence Brower | 1815-1817 | Term began on March 28 |
| Jacob Garrison | 1817 | Term began on March 19 |
| John Wyckoff | 1817-1821 | Term began on August 29 |
| John Teunis Bergen | 1821-1822 | Term began on February 12, 1821. |
| John Teunis Bergen | 1822-1825 | Term began in November 1822. |
| John Wyckoff | 1825-1828 | November |
| John Teunis Bergen | 1828-1831 | Term began in November 1828. He resigned from office. This was his second non-consecutive term. |
| John Lawrence | 1831-1834 | He was appointed vice sheriff on March 15, 1831 to replace John Teunis Bergen, who had resigned. |
| John Van Dyne | 1834-1837 | November |
| William M. Udall | 1837-1841 | November |
| Francis B. Strycker | 1841-1843 | November |
| William Jenkins | 1843-1846 | November |
| Daniel Van Voorhies | 1846-1849 | November |
| Andrew B. Hodges | 1849-1852 | November |
| Englebert Lott | 1852-1855 | November |
| Jerome Ryerson | 1855-1857 | November. He died in office. |
| George Remson | 1857 | Appointed vice sheriff on April 3, 1857 to complete the term of Jerome Ryerson. |
| Burdett Stryker | 1857-1860 | November |
| Anthony F. Campbell | 1860-1863 | November |
| John McNamee | 1863-1866 | November |
| Patrick Campbell | 1866-1869 | November |
| Anthony Walter | 1869-1872 | November |
| Aras G. Williams | 1872-1875 | November |
| Albert Daggett | 1875-1878 | November |
| Thomas M. Riley | 1878-1881 | November |
| Lewis R. Stegman | 1881-1884 | Term began in November. |
| Charles B. Farley | 1884-1887 | November |
| Clark D. Rhinehart | 1887-1890 | November |
| John Courtney | 1890-1893 | |
| William J. Buttling | 1893-1898 | November |
| Frank D. Creamer | 1898-1900 | |
| William Waltton | 1900-1902 | |
| Charles S. Guden | 1902 | He was removed from office by Governor Benjamin Odell in 1902. |
| Norman Staunton Dike, Sr. | 1902 | He was born in 1862. He was appointed as vice sheriff by Governor Benjamin Odell in 1902 to complete the term of Sheriff Guden. He died on April 15, 1953. |
| William E. Melody | 1903 | He was elected November 1902 and took office in January 1903. |
| Henry Hesterberg | 1904-1908 | |
| Alfred T. Hobley | 1908-1910 | He was elected on November 5, 1907 and took office on January 1, 1908. |
| J. S. Shea | 1910-1912 | Crowley Wentworth was the deputy sheriff. |
| Julis Harburger | 1912-1913 | |
| Charles Blakeslee Law | 1913-1914 | Term expired on December 31, 1913. |
| Lewis M. Swasey | 1914-1915 | Term expired on December 31, 1915 |
| Edward J. Riegelmann | 1916-1917 | |
| Daniel Joseph Griffin | 1918-1919 | He was born in 1880. His term expired on December 31, 1919. He died in 1926. |
| John Drescher | 1920-1921 | Term expired on December 31, 1921 |
| P. B. Seery | 1922-1923 | Term expired on December 31, 1923 |
| John N. Harman | 1924-1925 | > He was the Park Commissioner prior to sheriff. Term expired on December 31, 1925 |
| Frank J. Taylor | 1927-1928 | Term expired on December 31, 1928 |
| Herman M. Hessberg | 1929-1930 | Term expired on December 31, 1930 |
Queens County
| Name | Term | Notes and references |
| Sheriff Thomas M. Quinn | 1910 | |
| Paul Stier | ? to 1916 | He died on October 13, 1916 while trying to arrest Frank Taff at Whitestone Landing. |
New York County
The first Sheriff of New York County, Jan Lampo, was in office in 1626, although his title was Schout. Prior to 1942 the Sheriff of New York County was an elected position.| Name | Term | Notes and references |
| Marinus Willett | 1784-1787 | Appointed on Feb 4 1784 |
| Robert Boyd | 1787-1791 | Appointed on Sep 29 1787 |
| Marinus Willett | 1791-1795 | Appointed on Sep 29 1791 |
| Jacob John Lansing | 1795-1798 | Appointed on Sep 29 1795 |
| James Morris | 1798-1801 | Appointed on Dec 29 1798 |
| John Stagg, Jr. | 1801-1803 | Appointed on Aug 10 1801. Died on Aug 29 1803 |
| Joseph Constant | 1803-1807 | Appointed on Oct 7 1803 |
| William Cutting | 1807-1808 | Appointed on Feb 17 1807 |
| Benjamin Ferris | 1808-1810 | Appointed on Feb 16 1808 |
| Edward Dunscomb | 1810-1811 | Appointed on Feb 13 1810 |
| Benjamin Ferris | 1811-1813 | Appointed on Feb 19 1811 |
| Thomas R. Mercein | 1813 | Appointed on Mar 5 1813. Declined the appointment |
| Simon Fleet | 1813-1815 | Appointed on Mar 16 1813 |
| Ruggles Hubbard | 1815-1817 | Appointed on Apr 20 1815. Resigned Aug 1817 |
| James L. Bell | 1817-1821 | Appointed on Aug 27 1817 |
| Mordecai Manuel Noah | 1821-1823 | Appointed on Feb 13 1821 |
| Peter Hercules Wendover | 1823-1826 | |
| Oliver M. Lownds | 1826-1829 | |
| James Shaw | 1829-1832 | |
| Jacob Westervelt | 1832-1835 | |
| John Hillyer | 1835-1838 | |
| Jacob Acker | 1838-1841 | |
| Monmouth B. Hart | 1841-1844 | |
| Col. William Jones | 1844-1847 | |
| John Jacob V.B. Westervelt | 1847-1850 | |
| Thomas Carnley | 1850-1853 | |
| John Orser | 1853-1856 | |
| James C. Willet | 1856-1859 | |
| Aaron B. Rollins | 1853 to 1859 | Deputy sheriff. |
| John Kelly | 1859-1862 | |
| James Lynch | 1862-1865 | |
| John Kelly | 1865-1868 | |
| James O'Brien | 1868-1871 | |
| Matthew T. Brennan | 1871-1874 | |
| William C. Conner | 1874-1877 | |
| Bernard Reilly | 1877-1880 | |
| Peter Bowe | 1880-1883 | He was born in 1833 in Ireland. He was elected sheriff in November 1879 on the Irving Hall ticket, and took office on January 1, 1880. Joel O. Stevens was his Under-Sheriff and Daniel E. Finn, Sr. was his Deputy Sheriff. He died on March 2, 1903. |
| Alexander V. Davidson | 1883-1886 | |
| Bernard F. Martin, | circa 1885 | Deputy sheriff. |
| Hugh J. Grant | 1886-1889 | He later served as the 88th Mayor of New York City |
| James A. Flack | 1889-1890 | He resigned Mar 26 1890 after convicted of conspiracy to obtain an illegal divorce |
| Daniel Edgar Sickles | 1890-1891 | Appointed by Gov. Hill on Mar 29 1890 |
| John J. Gorman | 1891-1894 | |
| Charles M. Clancy | 1894 | He died Feb 25 1894 |
| John B. Sexton | 1894-1895 | Appointed by Gov. Flowers on Feb 27 1894 |
| Edward J.H. Tamsen, Sr. | 1895-1898 | He was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1849. He was elected sheriff of New York County in November 1894. Governor Levi Parsons Morton removed him from office in 1896. He died on July 24, 1907. |
| Thomas J. Dunn | 1898-1900 | |
| William F. Grell | 1900-1902 | |
| William J. O'Brien | 1902-1904 | |
| Mitchell L. Erlanger | 1904-1906 | |
| Nicholas J. Hayes | 1906-1908 | |
| Thomas F. Foley | 1908-1910 | He was elected in November 1907 and took office on January 1, 1908. |
| John S. Shea | 1910-1912 | |
| Julius Harburger | 1912-1914 | |
| Max Samuel Grifenhagen | 1914-1916 | Max Samuel Grifenhagen was a Jewish American entrepreneur, businessman, manufacturer, and notable Republican politician in New York in the early 1900s. He was the noted sheriff of New York County, an alderman, and a city registrar. |
| Al Smith | 1916-1918 | "As a reward for faithful service, Tammany's leaders named Mr. Smith as their candidate for Sheriff of New York while the convention was still in session. At that time the office of Sheriff was still on the fee system and was worth at least $50,000 a year to the incumbent." Note: This number appears too large to be accurate. |
| David H. Knott | 1918-1922 | |
| Percival E. Nagle | 1922-1923 | He died Dec 28 1923 |
| Peter Joseph Dooling | 1924 | Appointed by Gov. Smith on Jan 16 1924 |
| H. Warren Hubbard | 1924-1926 | |
| Charles W. Culkin | 1926-1929 | |
| Thomas M. Farley | 1930-1932 | Removed from office by Gov. Roosevelt on Feb 24 1932 |
| John E. Sheehy | 1932-1933 | Appointed by Gov. Roosevelt on Feb 29 1932 |
| Joseph T. Higgins | 1933-1934 | |
| Daniel E. Finn, Sr. | 1934-1938 | |
| Daniel E. Finn, Jr. | 1938-1941 | |
| Robert P. Levis | 1941 | Elected on Nov 4 1941 but the office was abolished under consolidation. Appointed by Mayor LaGuardia on Jan 1 1942 as a magistrate |
| James George Donovan | 1934 to 1941 | Undersheriff. After 1941 one sheriff served all five counties. |
Richmond County
| Name | Term | Notes and references |
| Harman Barkaloo Cropsey, Jr. | 1829 to 1831 | |
| William J. Dempsey | ? to 1941 | He was the last Sheriff of Richmond County, New York before the office became the New York City Sheriff's Office. |
Bronx County
| Name | Term | Notes and references |
| James F. O'Brien | 1920 to 1922 | First Sheriff of the County of The Bronx |
| James F. Donnelly | 1918 to 1920 | |
| Thomas H. O'Neill | 1920 to 1922 | |
| Edward Joseph Flynn | 1922 to 1925 | |
| Lester W. Patterson | ||
| Robert L. Moran | 1930 to 1933 | |
| John J. Hanley |