New York State Park Police


The New York State Park Police, is the law enforcement agency of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Mission of the NYSPP

The New York State Park Police provides police services consistent with the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation's mission-to provide safe and enjoyable recreational opportunities for New York State residents and visitors. In addition, the New York State Park Police assist park users, make arrests, conduct criminal and non-criminal investigations, and provide emergency services. New York State Park Police also provide special services including marine law enforcement and education duties on New York waterways, snowmobile enforcement and education, and rope rescue teams. New York State Park Police personnel are New York State police officers under paragraph e, subdivision 34, §1.20 of the state Criminal Procedure Law.

Organization

The New York State Park Police maintain law and order at 180 state parks and 35 state historic sites, covering nearly 335,000 acres of public lands and facilities, that are visited by over 71 million visitors each year.
The New York State Park Police are divided into 4 districts and 11 zones, serving 60 of New York State's 62 counties:
The uncovered areas, Catskill Park and Adirondack Park, are patrolled by the New York State Environmental Conservation Police.

Ranks and Insignia

There are eight sworn titles in the New York State Park Police:
TitleInsignia
Chief
Colonel
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Detective
Park Police Officer

Uniforms

The uniforms of the NYSPP are very similar to those of the New York State Police. Their uniforms are a greyish blue and they wear black neckties.

Training

The State Park Police Academy is 27 week
long military style residential academy, similar to military
boot camp. It is characterized by paramilitary drills, daily
inspections, intense physical demands, discipline, and
rigorous training. Recruits typically report to the
academy each Sunday evening for the work week, and
then return home for the weekend.

Vehicles

New York State Park Police officers patrol in marked police cars, four-wheel drive vehicles, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, bicycles, boats, personal water crafts, and in one region they ride horses.

Merger with State Police

As of late, there has been political debate concerning the New York State Park Police merging with the New York State Police. On December 3, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the New York State Park Police will merge with the New York State Police. The merger is expected to take about six months. However, as of July 2020 no concrete plan for a merger has been developed.