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New York City Housing Authority Police Department facts for kids

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New York City Housing Authority Police Department
Agency overview
Formed 1952
Dissolved 1995
Superseding agency New York City Police Department
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction New York, New York, USA
Map of New York Highlighting New York City.svg
Map of New York City Housing Authority Police Department's jurisdiction
Size 1,214.4 km²
Population 8,274,527
Legal jurisdiction New York City
General nature
Operational structure
Police Officers 2700+

The New York City Housing Authority Police Department was a special police group in New York City. It worked to keep people safe in public housing buildings. This police unit was active from 1952 until 1995.

About the Housing Police

The New York City Housing Authority Police Department, often called the Housing Police, was created to patrol and protect public housing developments. These are buildings where people can live at a lower cost. The police officers worked to prevent crime and help residents in these areas.

When it Started

The Housing Police Department officially began in 1952. Before that, security in public housing was handled by other groups. But as New York City grew, there was a need for a dedicated police force for these specific communities.

What They Did

The officers of the Housing Police had the same powers as other police officers in New York City. Their main job was to keep the housing projects safe. This included responding to emergencies, investigating crimes, and building good relationships with the people living there. They focused on making sure residents felt secure in their homes.

Joining the NYPD

In 1995, a big change happened for the Housing Police. The mayor of New York City at the time, Rudolph W. Giuliani, decided to combine several police forces. This included the Housing Police and the New York City Transit Police.

The Merger

Both the Housing Police and the Transit Police became part of the larger New York City Police Department (NYPD). This decision was made to create one big police force for the entire city. The idea was to make policing more efficient and coordinated.

Today's Housing Bureau

After the merger, the former Housing Police became known as the Housing Bureau within the NYPD. Officers still patrol public housing developments. Their work continues to focus on safety and community relations in these areas.

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