Professional Policing Act
New York State’s Professional Policing Act strengthened the state’s oversight of municipal police agencies with the goal of ensuring that individuals employed as police officers across the state are qualified, ethical and physically and psychologically fit to serve and protect their communities.
Counties, cities, towns, villages and police districts must follow comprehensive hiring standards and procedures for police officers; report misconduct to appropriate state agencies; and comply with all reporting requirements to the state’s Police and Peace Officer Registry, which is administered by DCJS.
Police officer candidates also must meet state standards for medical and physical fitness and agencies must conduct psychological assessments and background investigations that must include, but not be limited to:
- Comprehensive application and personal history statement
- Fingerprint-based criminal history record check
- Review of information from family members, DMV and others as required in state regulations
- In-person interview
- Search of the state’s Central Registry of Police and Peace Officers, and the National Decertification Index
All agencies employing police officers defined under Criminal Procedure Law Section 1.20.34 (paragraphs b, c, d, e, f, j, k, l, o, p, s, u) also must comply with two new Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Program standards that detail these requirements, regardless of whether they participate in the voluntary accreditation program. These agencies must be certified by the Accreditation Council no later than Oct. 16, 2023. Once agencies obtain initial certification, they must recertify every five years.
Standards and Procedures for Police Officer Candidates (9 NYCRR Part 6000)
Central State Registry of Police and Peace Officers: Reporting Requirements (9 NYCRR Part 6056)
FAQs: Hiring Standards and Procedures for Police Officer Candidates
Accreditation Standard: Hiring
Accreditation Standard: Reporting Requirements
Police Training / Basic Course for Police Officers
Mandatory Certification Memo (11/10/2022)
Professional Policing Act Memo (10/8/2021)