New York City Police Department School Safety Division - Rank Structure and Duties

Rank Structure and Duties

There are ten different ranks within the New York City Police Department School Safety Division:

• 1. Director of Patrol Operations: Assists in the implementation of Division-wide programs, oversees field operations and directly supervises and coordinates the activities of Deputy Directors for Patrol Operations.

• 2. Director of Administrative Operations: Assists in the implementation of Division-wide programs, oversees administrative operations, including budget, finance, personnel, equipment, etc., and directly supervises and coordinates the activities of the Deputy Director for Administrative Operations.

• 3. Deputy Director of Patrol Operations: There are three Deputy Directors, two deputies will oversee the operational activity for nine SSD Borough Commands: Brooklyn North; Brooklyn South; Queens North; Queens South; Staten Island; Manhattan South; Manhattan North; Bronx East; and Bronx West. One Deputy will oversee the operational activity of Support and Special Services; who will be responsible for the in-service training of all school safety agents, providing field resources to borough commands, and in conjunction with the NYPD Intelligence Division, conducting unannounced scanning at large-scale events. The two zone Deputy Directors answer to uniformed zone commanders in the rank of police inspector.

• 4. Deputy Director of Administrative Operations: There is one deputy Director who oversees the administrative operations of the payroll, employee benefits, personnel, grievances, performance evaluation, supplies, overtime and related areas.

• 5. Associate Supervisor of School Safety Level II (Borough Commanders): Plans, directs and supervises the entire operation of school security within an assigned geographic area: identifies training needs; assists in preparation of proposals; implements policies; allocates budget resources; initiates changes on a daily basis; meets with community superintendents, principals, community board officials, parent association, high-level police commanders and assistant district attorneys.

• 6. Associate Supervisor of School Safety: Responsible for the deployment, administration, evaluation and supervision of all members assigned to the command; maintains personnel records; deploys vehicles assigned to the office; serves as liaison between the division and all city agencies, parents associations, community school boards and civic groups in the development of security reform; handles all grievances and disciplinary actions involving personnel.

• 7. Supervisor of School Security: Meets and discusses issues and problems with subordinates and effectively communicates suggestions and conclusions in oral and written form. Oversees performance issues for all including attendance and lateness violations, and field inspections. Trains subordinates in procedure and disseminates policies to subordinates.

• 8. School Safety Agent III: Performs supervisory duties inside the schools; maintains work schedules; observes performance of subordinates; administers roll calls; monitors and responds to incidents; maintains full knowledge of school safety plans; documents and takes all corrective action necessary towards addressing emergency situations.

• 9. School Safety Agent II: Knowledgeable of arrest procedures and police forms, and is readily available for assignment changes. Quickly responds to emergency incidents within assigned borough. The job of School Safety Agent II is much like that of a police officer.

• 10. School Safety Agent I: Appears at specified time and location, is alert and prepared for post assignment; regulates flow of students at entrances and maintains order of school interior, checks outer perimeters for unauthorized persons; checks student ID, challenges visitors and adheres to visitor control procedures; immediately reports possible child abuse, drugs, alcohol, gang participation or psychological problems; uses minimal force necessary to effect arrest; interprets and reviews X-ray machine screens.

The NYPD has never specifically stepped forward and delineated where the civilian rank structure of the School Safety Division fits vis-a-vis the Department's uniformed rank structure. For instance, a "School Safety Agent III" wears the insignia of a uniformed sergeant, but is compensated at a rate roughly half that of a uniformed police officer.

This problem runs throughout the entire rank structure.