The New York City Sheriff's Office (NYCSO), officially the Office of the Sheriff of the City of New York, is the primary civil law enforcement agency for New York City.[1] The Sheriff's Office is a division of the New York City Department of Finance, operating as an enforcement arm.[2] The Sheriff's Office handles investigations concerning cigarette tax enforcement, real estate property/deed fraud and other matters deemed necessary by the Department of Finance.[3]
In addition, 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.
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 its 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 (known as poundage) 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.[4] In 1938, the first female deputy sheriff was appointed.[5]
On January 1, 1942, 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" (later undersheriffs) 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".[6] 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.[7]
Rank structure
Title
Insignia
Badge design
Uniform shirt color
Sheriff
Medallion with eagle and five stars
White
First Deputy Sheriff
Medallion with eagle and four stars
White
Chief of Staff
Medallion with eagle and three stars
White
Deputy Sheriff – Lieutenant
Medallion with Rank
White
Deputy Sheriff – Sergeant
Shield with eagle
Dark blue
Deputy Sheriff
Shield
Dark blue
In order to be appointed as deputies, candidates must first pass a civil service entrance examination and meet educational/experiential requirements. Candidates must also pass medical and psychological examinations, physical ability tests, and a full background investigation.[8] In addition to deputy sheriffs, the Sheriff's Office employs sworn criminal investigators and an assortment of civilian support personnel.[3]
As of May 3, 2022, Anthony Miranda was appointed the 122nd Sheriff of the City of New York.[9]
The 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.[10]
Operational structure
The New York City Sheriff's Office is composed of three sections: Operations, Intelligence, and Support.[11]
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 (LEB) personnel. LEB deputies perform a wide array of tasks such as evictions,[12] civil arrest warrants,[13] orders to commit, and the seizure and sale of property pursuant to judicial mandates.[14][15] 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,[16] 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.[17] 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 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.[11]
Intelligence section
The intelligence section is composed of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Intelligence Unit. The BCI investigates city tax violation,[18] real property larceny/deed fraud,[19][20] synthetic narcotic enforcement (such as spice/K2 and bath salts)[21] and 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.[11]
Deputy sheriffs and criminal investigators (sheriff detective and sheriff investigator) are New York State peace officers with authority to make warrantless arrests, issue summonses, carry and use a firearm, conducted energy device, baton, pepper spray, handcuffs. Deputy sheriffs receive their peace officer status pursuant to the New York State Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) §2.10 subdivision 2, while criminal investigators receive their peace officer status from CPL §2.10 subdivision 5.
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 deputies.[23] Special officers work as part of the team of sheriff's deputies and detectives and perform bailiff functions and protect the NYC Finance Administrative Hearings Tribunal.[23]
Ranks
Special Officer.
Special Officer Sergeant.
Fallen officers
Since the establishment of the sheriff's offices throughout the five counties of New York City, seven sworn officers have died in the line of duty.[24]
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.
He was the 121st Sheriff of New York City including acting sheriffs in the count. "Mr. Domenech will become the city’s 117th sheriff [excluding acting sheriffs] and will oversee a staff of 174 employees, including 118 deputy sheriffs, and an annual budget of $16 million."[26]
He was born in 1862. He was appointed as vice sheriff (acting sheriff) by Governor Benjamin Odell in 1902 to complete the term of Sheriff Guden.[31] He died on April 15, 1953.[31][32]
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.
He was born in 1833 in Ireland.[45] 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. (1845–1910) was his Deputy Sheriff.[44] He died on March 2, 1903.[45]
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.[47] He died on July 24, 1907.
"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 (approximately $1,506,000 today) a year to the incumbent." Note: This number appears too large to be accurate.[51]
^New York City Charter § 1526 [2020] "There shall be within the department [of finance] an office of the city sheriff which shall be subject to the supervision and control of the commissioner of finance."
^McKinley, Jesse (November 27, 1994). "F.Y.I."The New York Times. Vol. CXLIV, no. 49893 (New York ed.). sec. 13 p. 2. Retrieved January 21, 2008. Established in 1626, the Sheriff's office in Manhattan and its equivalents in the other boroughs served as a major part of the patchwork of law-enforcement agencies that existed before the city's consolidation in 1898. After that, the new New York City Police Department took over all the responsibility for Policing and criminal investigations in New York City. Prior to the merger into one department, the sheriff was responsible for maintaining the city jails and maintained custody over all inmates sentenced or awaiting trial for criminal cases. In 1941, The city charter was amended by public referendum votes to transfer custodial duties of inmates in criminal cases to the New York City Department of Correction. Today, the city sheriff's primary duties are enforcing court-ordered judgments and fines, including unpaid parking tickets and littering fines, and collecting judgments from reluctant losers in private lawsuits, said John George, the Sheriff's executive assistant.
^ ab"Death Of Peter Bowe. Harlem Politician Who Was Elected Sheriff on the Irving Hall Ticket. Major of Tammany Regiment". New York Times. March 3, 1903.