New York City Department of Health and Hospitals Police
The New York City Health and Hospitals Police Department is the law enforcement division for the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation whose duties are to provide on-site security services at the 18 NYC hospitals and clinics operated by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation and to enforce state and city laws at those facilities.
History
New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation Special Officers provided on-site security service to the New York City-owned hospitals since the 1940s, when they were known as the City of New York Department of Hospitals. The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation was established in 1965 to operate New York City public hospitals. Until 1973, HHC-operated hospitals were patrolled by both hospital security officers and police officers from the New York City Police Department. In 1973, Special Patrolmen were hired and the New York City Police Department officers were removed. However, it was not until 1980 that HHC Special Officers employed by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation were added to NYS Criminal Procedure Law 2.10 sub 40. In 2015, the city of new york department of citywide administrative service application unit added this new position to new York's civil service exam.
NYC HHC Special Officers
New York City Health and Hospitals Special Officers are employed by title NYC Health and Hospitals Special Officers and Supervising Special Officers levels 1 and 2 as per civil service title. Eligible NYC Health and Hospitals Special Officers can be promoted to the position of Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain and further to Assistant Chief and Chief of department.
Ranks
Members of New York City Health and Hospitals are hired under the civil service title of Special Officer-HHC, and are subject to advancement upon provisional or civil service appointment to the title of Supervising Special Officer and Hospital Security Officer. All current appointments to the rank of Captain or Higher are provisional by nature. Ranks reflect those of other law enforcement agencies and include the following:
Title
Insignia
Uniform shirt color
Chief
White
Assistant Chief
White
Captain
White
Lieutenant
White
Sergeant
Dark blue
Special Officer
Silver Shield
Dark blue
Power and authority
New York City Health and Hospitals special officers are NYS peace officers under New York StateCriminal Procedure law, chapter subdivision 27, §2.10 Sub 40 which grants them limited authority of warrantless arrests, issue criminal court summonses.
Training
New York City Health and Hospitals Special Officer Recruits must complete the basic Peace Officer training. The current training course is ten weeks at Jacobi hospital. The curriculum includes training in basic criminal and NYS criminal procedural law, penal law, procedural law, powers of a Peace Officer, defensive tactics, radio use, arrest procedures, and first aid/CPR, pepper spray training. NYC Health and Hospitals Special Officers are required to attend annual in-service training to ensure compliance with applicable provisions of the New York State's Division of Criminal Justice Services.
