Police and Security

The DEP Police Division is charged with protecting the city’s water supply system, which includes two dozen reservoirs and lakes, more than 2,000 square miles of watershed land across nine counties, hundreds of miles of tunnels and aqueducts, dozens of dams, treatment plants, laboratories and other facilities. DEP police patrol the watershed by foot, bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, boat and helicopter. They also maintain specially trained units that include a detective bureau, emergency service unit, canine unit and aviation unit.

To learn more about becoming an Environmental Police Officer, download our DEP Police Brochure.

History

The division traces its roots back to the Board of Water Supply Police, which was created through a 1906 amendment to the 1905 Water Supply Act during planning for the Catskill Aqueduct. The first officers, called patrolmen, were appointed in 1908 to protect localities affected by construction of the water supply. Headquarters were at Kingston, with the force divided into four squads at Peekskill, Garrison, Browns Station, and High Falls. The police force continued to protect the water supply and communities throughout construction and operation of the Catskill system and then the Delaware Aqueduct. In 1978, the Board of Water Supply was repealed and its functions, policing included, transferred to the Department of Environmental Protection.

Precincts

DEP Police precincts serve as a geographic base of operations to conduct day-to-day operations (e.g. walk-ins, daily patrols, and other enforcement unit work), monitor electronic security systems, and to dispatch forces as needed. West of Hudson Commands consist of the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Precincts and East of Hudson Commands consist of the 6th and 7th Precincts. Their locations and contact information are as follows:

• 1st Precinct (Gilboa): 370 State Road 990V, Gilboa, NY 12076; tel. 607-588-6621. Located near Schoharie Reservoir, the Gilboa precinct is in the northernmost area of the New York City watershed.
• 2nd Precinct (Beerston): 21852 State Highway 10, Walton, NY 13856; tel. 607-865-4185. Located near Cannonsville Reservoir, the Beerston precinct is in the westernmost area of the New York City watershed.
• 3rd Precinct (Downsville): 40 NYC Highway 30A, Downsville, NY 13755; tel. 607-363-9000. The Downsville Precinct is located near Pepacton Reservoir.
• 4th Precinct (Ashokan): 2398 Route 28A, Olive Bridge, NY 12461; tel. 845-657-8433. The Ashokan Precinct is located near Ashokan Reservoir.
• 5th Precinct (Grahamsville): 7892 State Route 42 Grahamsville, NY 12740; tel. 845-334-7878. The Grahamsville Precinct is situated between Roundout and Neversink Reservoirs.
• 6th Precinct (Eastview): 2 Walker Road Valhalla, NY 10595; tel. 914-593-7500. The Eastview Precinct is the Central Communications Center and Alarm Monitoring Center and is located near Kensico Reservoir.
• 7th Precinct (Hillview): 100 Central Park Ave North Yonkers, NY 10704; tel. 914-663-9800. The Hillview Precinct is located at Hillview Reservoir.
• Police Academy (Kingston): 144 Flatbush Avenue Kingston, NY 12401; tel. 845-334-7500.The Academy serves as Training Headquarters for the DEP Police.
• Aviation Unit (Wappingers Falls): 84 Citation Drive, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590; tel. 845-432-7533. The Aviation Unit sits centralized for aerial patrol of both East and West of the Hudson River.