Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is DOI's Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD (OIG-NYPD)?
2. Is the Ofice of the Inspector General for the NYPD (OIG-NYPD) part of the New York City Police Department?
3. Who is the Inspector General for the NYPD?
4. What types of issues does OIG-NYPD review and investigate?
5. Does OIG-NYPD investigate individual allegations of police misconduct?
6. How is OIG-NYPD different from the Civilian Complaint Review Board?
7. Can I file a complaint with OIG-NYPD?
8. How can I learn about the findings and recommendations issued by OIG-NYPD?
9. Is OIG-NYPD part of the Floyd case dealing with the issue of stop and frisk?
10. I would like to work for OIG-NYPD. How do I apply for a position?

1. What is DOI's Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD (OIG-NYPD)?

   
   The Office of the Inspector General for the New York City Police Department (OIG-NYPD) is a DOI unit that operates independently of the NYPD. In 2013, the City Council – pursuant to Local Law 70 – required DOI to designate an Inspector General for the NYPD, who would investigate, review, study, audit and make recommendations relating to the operations, policies, programs and practices of NYPD, with the goal of enhancing the effectiveness of NYPD, increasing public safety, protecting civil liberties and civil rights, and increasing the public’s confidence in the police force.

    

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2. Is the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD (OIG-NYPD) part of the New York City Police Department?

   
   No, OIG-NYPD is not part of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and operates independently from the NYPD. Rather, the Office of the Inspector General for the NYPD is an office within the Department of Investigation (DOI) and its Inspector General reports directly to the DOI Commissioner.

    

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3. Who is the Inspector General for the NYPD?

   
   Currently, the Acting Inspector General for the NYPD is Jeanene Barrett, who most recently served as the OIG-NYPD's First Deputy Inspector General. 

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4. What types of issues does OIG-NYPD review and investigate?

   
   OIG-NYPD has a broad investigative mandate codified in Local Law 70 and the City Charter for DOI, which includes reviewing NYPD policies and procedures and issuing recommendations relating to the “operations, policies, program and practices” of the NYPD, such as issues related to civil rights and police community relations. OIG-NYPD is empowered to look at a wide variety of policing issues, and has issued reports on the following matters: use of force; surveillance and intelligence activities; instances of alleged bias; officer training; technology; response to political protests; and interactions with people with mental illness. DOI’s OIG-NYPD largely focuses on systemic issues relating to the operations, policies, programs, and practices of the NYPD and sets its priorities based on a review and analysis of the facts — including data received from NYPD, and concerns raised by members of the community, including through OIG-NYPD's complaint intake — to detect patterns, identify issues, and recommend solutions.

    

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5. Does OIG-NYPD investigate individual allegations of police misconduct?

   
   Pursuant to the City Charter, DOI is authorized to investigate all matters involving misconduct by City employees. DOI is also authorized to refer matters involving potential criminal conduct to relevant prosecutors' offices and instances of potential conflicts of interest or unethical conduct to the City's Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB). OIG-NYPD was not established to replicate the investigative functions of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) or NYPD's Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB). Although DOI’s OIG-NYPD largely focuses on patterns and trends, the office can and does investigate individual acts of officer misconduct. It also refers such matters to the CCRB and IAB.

    

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6. How is OIG-NYPD different from the Civilian Complaint Review Board?

   
   The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) is a City agency, established in 1993, where members of the public can file complaints alleging police misconduct against individual officers. The CCRB is independent from NYPD and handles four types of alleged police misconduct complaints:

    

   1. Excessive or Unnecessary Use of Force
   2. Abuse of Authority
   3. Discourtesy
   4. Offensive Language
   
   

   The CCRB is charged with receiving, investigating, mediating, hearing, making findings and recommending action on such misconduct complaints. The CCRB forwards its findings to the Police Commissioner. CCRB is comprised of a 13-member board composed of members of the public, an executive director who manages the agency's daily operations, and a staff of more than 160 investigators, attorneys and support staff.
   
   While OIG-NYPD receives and investigates complaints from members of the public alleging individual instances of police misconduct, OIG-NYPD was not designed to replicate the CCRB and can refer individual complaints to the CCRB.

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7. Can I file a complaint with OIG-NYPD?

   
   Yes, members of the public may report any complaints or concerns regarding the NYPD’S operations, policies, programs and practices. DOI’s OIG-NYPD accepts complaints via letter, telephone, walk-in, and online complaint forms.

    

   OIG-NYPD can be contacted at:

   Office of the Inspector General for the New York City Police Department
   New York City Department of Investigation
   180 Maiden Lane
   New York, NY 10038
   Telephone: (212) 806-5200

   Members of the public are not required to provide personally identifying information when communicating with DOI and may submit a complaint anonymously. However, it will be harder to investigate and clarify the concerns addressed in the complaint without having a way to reach the complainant. Individuals who are concerned about retaliation for filing complaints may be protected by law. For more information about the New York City whistleblower law, please click here to read about Whistleblower Protection.

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8. How can I learn about the findings and recommendations issued by DOI's OIG-NYPD?

   
   DOI’s OIG-NYPD is required by statute to furnish its reports to the Mayor, the City Council and the Police Commissioner. In addition, OIG-NYPD posts its reports and NYPD’s statutorily-mandated responses to these reports for the public on its website. 

    

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9. Is OIG-NYPD part of the Floyd case dealing with the issue of stop and frisk?

   
   No. In the legal case of Floyd et al. v. City of New York et al., No. 08 Civ. 1034, and the companion case of Ligon v. City of New York, No. 12 Civ. 2274, the Court appointed an independent monitor to ensure that NYPD carries out certain reforms recommended by the Court with respect to the stop and frisk policies and practices at issue in the Floyd case. The Floyd monitor serves at the direction of the Court and for a limited term, conditioned upon the City's substantial compliance with Court-ordered injunctive relief in connection with the two cases. The monitor’s website is website is www.nypdmonitor.org.

    

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10. I would like to work for DOI's OIG-NYPD. How do I apply for a position?

    
    For information on current career opportunities with OIG-NYPD, please see the Career Opportunities page.

     

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