What Your Options Are: A Guide to NYPD Jobs

Established back in 1845, NYPD is the largest police department in the US, with 36,000 uniformed officers and 19,000 civilian employees. This number may seem high, but the department is tasked with policing a city of 8.5million population, which is no small feat.

According to official data, the NYPD responds to almost 500 thousand reports of crime yearly.

Why You Should Consider Joining NYPD

NYPD is recognized as the leading department in the country in crime reduction. Serving in NYPD is not just about the pride of serving your city and country, but it also comes with outstanding benefits.

These benefits include a decent starting salary that can increase up to $85,000 after five and a half years of service. Furthermore, NYPD employees also enjoy additional benefits such as holiday pay, uniform allowance, longevity pay, overtime, as well as night differential.

NYPD police officers can earn more than $100,000 per year, avail excellent promotion opportunities, medical benefit packages as well as unlimited sick leave with full pay.

What NYPD Officers Do

NYPD functions so well because uniformed officers and civilian employees work together to ensure public safety. These officers work day and night to solve cases and prevent crimes.

NYPD police officers conduct patrol duties and investigate crimes by gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, victims, and suspects. NYPD officers also have to direct traffic, issue traffic citations, conduct arrests, prepare crime reports, and respond to public disorder reports.

NYPD police officers also offer assistance in case of vehicular accidents, collision scenes and perform duties at vehicle checkpoints. Moreover, NYPD officers also provide their service in criminal prosecutions and deliver deposition and court testimony in criminal.

Career Options With NYPD

So, if you’re interested in a career with NYPD, rest assured that it can be a highly rewarding career path. However, you might be wondering what your options are. We’ve made this guide to help you figure out some of your options to work with the NYPD!

Police Officer

Police offers perform numerous duties for the NYPD to ensure the safety of the public. Officers patrol areas and typically serve as first responders when reports of crime come in.

Police offers may also be tasked with directing traffic in case of special events or dealing with accidents on the road. Furthermore, police officers also assist in casework and writing reports.

Police Detective

Police detectives in the NYPD are the officers who are tasked with investigating crimes and hand the cases over to prosecutors. In order to solve the cases, detectives use physical and testimonial evidence to piece together the events leading up to and during the crime.

Moreover, NYPD detectives also have to conduct interviews and interrogations and testify in courts for criminal cases. Police offers can be promoted to the rank of detective as per the discretion of the police commissioner or as per the law requirement, i.e., after eighteen or more months of investigative duty.

Police Captain

Essentially, there are three career paths in the NYPD, including investigative, supervisory, and specialist. The investigative path is taken by officers who want to become detectives. However, NYPD officers who take the supervisory path earn promotion to the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant, and captain.

These promotions are earned by taking part in competitive civil service exams conducted frequently in New York City. After reaching the rank of captain, further promotions are awarded by the police commissioner. In NYPD, police captains are tasked with running a precinct.

Crime Scene Investigator

In the NYPD, crime scene investigators are uniformed police officers who are tasked with identifying, collecting, processing, and protecting evidence. Crime scene investigators might have to witness gruesome sights when they’re asked to report to a crime scene.

However, crime scene investigation is a crucial job as these officers collaborate with the detectives to help them analyze the evidence.

These NYPD officers ensure that there’s a properly documented chain of custody for the evidence. By doing so, crime scene investigators reduce the risk of criminal defense lawyers getting the evidence thrown out by a judge.

Evidence Technician

If you’re more inclined towards a civilian career than a uniformed officer, you can consider becoming an evidence technician with the NYPD.

These civilian employees are the experts at preserving and interpreting the evidence provided to them by NYPD investigators and detectives. They typically work in labs perform tests on the evidence but may occasionally visit the crime scenes as well if required.

These jobs are lucrative because you can help solve crimes in NYC without having the responsibilities of carrying a gun, tracking down evidence, or making arrests. In short, this career path is great for those wanting to work in the NYPD but not on the frontlines.

Police Communications Technicians

Police communications technician is a job in the NYPD’s Communications department. These technicians are typically 911 operators and radio dispatchers. They take 911 emergency calls and serve as radio dispatchers of police resources.

Furthermore, police communications technicians also perform other administrative and clerical tasks related to providing emergency services to the city’s population. It is important to remember that police communications technicians have to work in shifts.

Similar to uniformed officers, police communications technicians in the NYPD have to take the civil service exam in NYC as well as pass other medical and psychological tests.

Traffic Enforcement Agents

Just as the name suggests, traffic enforcement agents are responsible for ensuring that the traffic flows smoothly in New York City. It’s also worth mentioning that traffic enforcement agents also undergo training in the Police Academy.

These agents have to perform a multitude of tasks related to traffic enforcement, such as issuing summons to an illegally parked vehicle, direct traffic at the intersections, testify in courts, prepare reports, and operate a vehicle when required.

School Safety Agents

School safety agents are responsible for the security and safety of the students and faculty in the public-school buildings of NYC. School safety agents are asked to patrol the buildings and surrounding premises, operate scanning equipment, verify identity, and escort visitors.

How to Prepare for A NYPD Career

In short, if you’re interested in a career with NYPD, you can choose from the multiple options and paths that are available. As of now, you can take the Suffolk County Police Exam in NYS. At Civil Service Success, we help you prepare for civil services exams in New York State.

These exams are only available once every four to six years, which is why it is crucial to be fully prepared. Our preparatory classes are offered by experts who will make sure you’re ready to ace the exam! Register now or get in touch with us to learn more about our institution.