New York City Sheriff's Office - Chain of Command

Chain of Command

The sheriff's office has a line and staff chain of command that is similar to that of police departments and military organizations:

The current sheriff is Edgar A. Domenech. He was appointed to the position of sheriff by mayor Michael Bloomberg in January 2011. Sheriff Domenech is a retired Deputy Director from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after 26 years of service.

In addition to deputy sheriffs, the Sheriff's Office employs sworn investigators and security officers. As with other sworn members of city law enforcement agencies, the investigators get their powers and privileges pursuit to the New York State Criminal Procedure Law as peace officers, under one of the subdivisions of §2.10, or in the case of security officers as special patrolmen, under subdivision 27, §2.10.

The Office of the New York City Sheriff is served by a Chaplain Support Unit. The current Sheriff has appointed four Chaplains to serve the unique needs of the sworn, investigative and support staff members of the New York City Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s Chaplains are not deputy sheriffs but are duly authorized uniformed 'Members of the Service'. Each is a certified law enforcement Chaplain who collectively have over 100 years of combined service. Sheriff’s Chaplains have the assimilated rank of undersheriff with the chaplain’s insignia, and are outside the operational chain of command with no actual law enforcement authority. In addition to the four the Sheriff may appoint a Senior Chaplain who would wear two stars and the chaplain’s insignia. Appointment as a Chaplain or as the Senior Chaplain is subject to the needs of the office and the discretion of the Sheriff.

All sworn 'Members of the Service' are vested with an authorized badge (shield) and an identification card. Sheriff's Office employees who are not sworn deputies or peace officers will also have identification cards.