FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18-108
December 10, 2018
deppressoffice@dep.nyc.gov; (845) 334-7868

Department of Environmental Protection Announces Promotion of Four Veteran Members of its Police Division

A Photo from the promotion ceremony is available on DEP’s Flickr Page

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection today announced the promotion of four environmental police officers. The veteran officers were promoted December 4 during a ceremony at the Staff Sgt. Robert H. Dietz DEP Police Academy in Kingston, NY.

The DEP Police Division was established more than 100 years ago. Its 220 members are charged with protecting 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, more than 185,000 acres of watershed land, roughly 300 miles of aqueducts, 29 water supply dams, 57 bridges, seven wastewater treatment plants, and more than 280 shafts, chambers, laboratories and treatment facilities that help the water system function. These facilities and lands stretch across parts of eight counties and roughly 2,000 square miles of watershed. DEP Police patrol the watershed by foot, bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, boat and helicopter. They also maintain specially trained units, including a Detective Bureau, Emergency Service Unit, Canine Unit and Aviation Unit.

The following sergeant was promoted to the rank of lieutenant:

Lieutenant Andreas Ortiz was appointed to the DEP Police in December 2001 and began his career in the Patrol Division reporting out of the Croton Precinct. In September 2003 he was selected for and transferred to the Emergency Service Unit where he served until today. In December 2012 he was promoted to Sergeant and served as the Team Leader for First Squad. During his 15 years with ESU, Lieutenant Ortiz received numerous certifications including Emergency Medical Technician, Firearms Instructor and Less Lethal Instructor.

The following detective was promoted to the rank of sergeant:

Sergeant Michael Upshaw joined the DEP Police in March 2007 and began his career in the Special Operations Division, Strategic Patrol Unit. In May 2008 he was selected for and transferred to the Emergency Service Unit. He was promoted to Detective in April 2013 and continues to serve in the Emergency Services Unit today.

The following officers were promoted to the rank of detective:

Detective James Dipietrantonio joined the DEP Police in September 2011 and began his career in the Patrol Division, reporting out of the Eastview Precinct. In December 2016 he was selected for and transferred to the Emergency Service Unit.

Detective Giuseppe Multari joined the DEP Police in December 2005 and began his career in the Patrol Division, reporting out of the Ashokan Precinct. He was later transferred to the Gilboa Precinct. In June 2008 he was selected for and transferred to the Special Operations Division, Strategic Patrol Unit. In September 2013 he returned to the Patrol Division, reporting out of the Ashokan Precinct. In December 2016, he was selected for and transferred to the Emergency Service Unit.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality water each day to more than 9.5 million New Yorkers. This includes more than 70 upstate communities and institutions in Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties who consume an average of 110 million total gallons of drinking water daily from New York City’s water supply system. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and other professionals in the watershed. In addition to its $70 million payroll and $168.9 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.7 billion in watershed protection programs—including partnership organizations such as the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council—that support sustainable farming practices, environmentally sensitive economic development, and local economic opportunity. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program with $18.9 billion in investments planned over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.