| Agencyname: | New York City Police Department School Safety Division |
| Commonname: | NYPD School Safety Division |
| Abbreviation: | NYPD/SSD |
| Patch: | NYPD - School Safety.jpg |
| Badge: | NYPD School Safety badge.jpg |
| Badgecaption: | Shield of the New York City Police Department School Safety Division |
| Flag: | Flag of the New York City Police Department.svg |
| Flagcaption: | Flag of the New York City Police Department |
| Motto: | Fidelis ad Mortem |
| Mottotranslated: | Faithful till Death |
| Formedyear: | 1998 |
| Preceding1: | Municipal Police |
| Budget: | $243,335,196 |
| Country: | United States |
| Divtype: | State |
| Divname: | New York |
| Subdivtype: | City |
| Subdivname: | New York |
| Map: | Map of New York Highlighting New York City.svg |
| Sizearea: | 468.9sqmi |
| Sizepopulation: | 8,274,527 |
| Legaljuris: | New York City |
| Headquarters: | One Police Plaza 28-11 Queens Plaza North |
| Sworntype: | School Safety Agent |
| Sworn: | 5,147 |
| Electeetype: | Police Commissioner |
| Minister1name: | Edward Caban |
| Chief1name: | Commanding Officer, Inspector Tracy S. Mulet |
| Chief2name: | Executive Officer, Deputy Inspector Ryon N. Malcolm. |
| Parentagency: | New York City Police Department |
| Officetype: | Borough |
| Stationtype: | School |
| Stations: | 1500+ |
| Vehicle1type: | Police car |
| Vehicles1: | Approx. 150 |
The New York City Police Department School Safety Division is the law enforcement agency for New York City Department of Education schools. The agency is a division of the New York City Police Department Community Affairs Bureau and is one of the largest school-based law enforcement agencies in New York City and the United States, with approximately 5,000 School Safety Agents (SSA's) and 200 police officers. There are more School Safety Agents in NYC schools than counselors.[1] The division costs approximately $750 million a year to run.
The New York City Police Department School Safety Division was formed in 1998 when the School Safety Division was transferred from the New York City Department of Education to the New York City Police Department. Since then, the School Safety Division has expanded in duties and in number of officers. In 2006, NYPD school safety agents were classified Civil Service Status with the first DCAS Civil Service exam given on June 9, 2007.
School Safety Agents are designated as New York City Special Patrolmen. School Safety Agents can make warrant-less arrests, carry and use handcuffs, and use physical force or deadly force, if necessary, to keep students, teachers, staff and fellow agents safe.
School Safety Agents are classified as peace officers under the New York Criminal Procedure Law.
School Safety Agents wear French blue uniform shirts with dark blue pants, almost identical to the NYPD's traffic enforcement agents (TEAs) with the exception of their eight-point uniform caps. SSAs use the dark blue caps just as uniformed police officers do. Their shield is oval with an eagle on top, in contrast to the shield worn by police officers. Vehicles were formerly dark blue with white decals and now are white with light blue decals similarly to those of patrol officers..[2] [3] [4]
Since the establishment of the New York City Police Department School Safety Division, two Agents have died while on duty, one in 1999 and one in 2005. Both deaths were caused by heart attack.[5]
On November 16, 1999, School Safety Agent Orville M. Williams died after suffering a fatal heart attacking after responding to and breaking up several fights. Agent Williams and his partner break up one fight, when they are called to another fight on the third floor of the building. After breaking up the second fight, Agent Williams was taking a student to the Principal's office when he collapsed. Agent Williams was on the job for two years. https://www.odmp.org/officer/16585-school-safety-agent-orville-m-williams
School Safety Agent Vivian A. Samuels-Benjamin died on December 16, 2005, after suffering a heart attacked after being assaulted by a student inside I.S. 390 in Brooklyn. Agent Samuels-Benjamin was working a holiday dance and was attempting to remove a 12 year old student that has been causing a disturbance. The student struck Agent Samuels-Benjamin twice in the head causing the 56 year old Agent to fall on the ground. Two other Agents on the scene rushed to assist Agent Samuels-Benjamin and take the suspect into custody. Agent Samuels-Benjamin served with the School Safety Division for 24 years. https://nypost.com/2005/12/22/tears-for-slain-school-cop-at-wake/https://nypost.com/2005/12/23/sad-goodbye-to-school-officer-honored-for-wisdom-cheer/https://www.odmp.org/officer/reflections/18082-school-safety-agent-vivian-a-samuels-benjamin/50
As new recruits, Probationary School Safety Agents (PSSA's) are assigned to the NYPD Police Academy located in College Point, Queens for 20 weeks. In those 20 weeks, Agents are taught Procedural Law, Criminal / Constitutional Law, Crisis Intervention/Resolution, Substantive Law, Terrorism Awareness and Emergency Preparedness, School Policing Special Populations, School Police Investigation and Reporting, Active Shooter / Threats, and Patrol Operations just to name a few. Recruits also train in Physical Fitness, Defensive Tactics, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support.
SCHOOL SAFETY DIVISION RANKS:
Agents may promote via examinations administered by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the city agency charged with civil service examinations.
This division is not to be confused with the NYPD school crossing guards, which are civilian employees with no police or peace officer powers. However, the two divisions often work hand in hand to provide both safe travel to and from school, as well as safety inside the facilities and classroom operated by the city's public school system.