The Department of Environmental Protection Police, formerly known as the Bureau of Water Supply Police and the Aqueduct Police has protected and preserved the New York City water supply system, the nation's largest single source water supply, for over a hundred years. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ...

The BWS Police were created through legislation enacted in 1906 known as the Water Supply Act. It was not until 1907 that the first provisional appointees were hired and assigned. On July 9, 1908, the first permanent police officers were appointed and assigned to the precincts in Peekskill, Garrison, Browns Station, and High Falls. The Board of Water Supply Police was the first police agency in upstate New York, with a multiple county police jurisdiction. is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ...

In 1908, Rhinelander Waldo was appointed as Chief of the Board of the Aqueduct Police. At this time, there were approximately 60 men assigned to the force. After a few months of service, Rhinelander was appointed Police Commissioner of the City of New York. He was succeeded by Captain Douglas I. McKay.

Captain McKay selected a number of qualified individuals from the civil service list, with the intention of making them Aqueduct Police Sergeants. He created stringent requirements, including that all members must be qualified horseman, and have experience as an officer or non-commissioned officer in the United States Army or the National Guard (with a preference for Spanish-American War Veterans). Approximately two hundred men passed these rigid qualifications and were appointed as sergeants. Combatants United States Republic of Cuba Philippine Republic Spain Commanders Nelson A. Miles William R. Shafter George Dewey Máximo Gómez Emilio Aguinaldo Patricio Montojo Pascual Cervera Arsenio Linares General Ramón Blanco Casualties 3,289 U.S. dead (432 from combat); considerably higher although undetermined Cuban and Filipino...

At this time, the newly formed Aqueduct Police, comprising of a force of 350 officers (300 of these being mounted units) were tasked with ensuring order in the unruly construction site work camps. The first Board of Water Supply Police Precinct was built in Spout Brook, approximately two miles from Peekskill, New York. Other Precincts were built shortly after, each being manned by five sergeants and thirty officers and horses.

In 1983, the BWS became the DEP and the New York State Legislature revised the CPL to include police officers and the DEP police officers (in section 1-34-0). In 1999, the DEP jurisdiction was extended to include the five boroughs of New York City. In 2004, the highest court in the state, the New York State Court of Appeals affirmed the DEP Police's jurisdiction throughout the watershed. Currently the DEP Police maintains jurisdiction in 14 counties including the 5 counties in New York City. The Department has a full time ESU Team, Marine Patrol, K-9 Patrol, and Detective Bureau. The Department currently employs only about 154 Police Officers for an area the size that is equivalent to the State of Maryland. The New York Legislature is the U.S. state of New Yorks legislative branch, seated at the states capital, Albany. ...

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection Police investigate over 4000 complaints per year, 500 of these related to environmental crimes. Environmental crimes include storm water complaints, water pollution and the illegal transportation, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. Additionally the NYC DEP Police investigate waste water treatment plant and septic system failures as well as dumping complaints. The Officers are represented by LEEBA (Law Enforcement Employees Benevolent Association).

External links

• NYC DEP Website