Deputy Commissioner

The mission of the New York City Police Department is to enhance the quality of life in New York City by working in partnership with the community to enforce the law, preserve peace, protect the people, reduce fear, and maintain order. The NYPD strives to foster a safe and fair city by incorporating Neighborhood Policing into all facets of Department operations, and solve the problems that create crime and disorder through an interdependent relationship between the people and its police, and by pioneering strategic innovation.

The NYPD is seeking a candidate to fill the role of Deputy Commissioner - Department Advocate.

Duties And Responsibilities Include The Following

• Manages, directs, and oversees a large professional legal staff and support personnel engaged in the prosecution of all violations of the disciplinary policies and procedures of the Police Department.
• Maintains responsibility for the complex coordination of efforts among the various units within the Department Advocate’s Office, which perform several critical functions including litigation support and legal research, trial calendar scheduling, preparation of charges, trial negotiation, and liaison with the Civilian Complaint Review Board, District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Trials.
• Reviews all recommendations for penalties ranging from placing members of the service on restricted or modified assignment, through suspension and termination, and advises the Police Commissioner on the appropriate course of action.
• Serves as the chief legal counsel and policy advisor to the Police Commissioner and key members of his executive staff regarding all Department disciplinary policies and procedures, and makes recommendations to the Police Commissioner regarding the formulation, modification, and implementation of Department programs, policies and procedures that directly impact the Department’s disciplinary system.
• Analyzes the disciplinary process in order to identify and address shortcomings and make changes, which ensure a fair and expeditious disciplinary system. Interprets legal rulings, presents written opinions and legal briefs, and tracks high profile cases in the media to determine their impact on Department policies and procedures.
• Ensures that all legal staff of the Department Advocate’s Office receives direction and ongoing training to ensure that they remain knowledgeable of current case law and precedent setting decisions, and conducts department training on disciplinary policy and procedures. Formulates procedures to reduce the backlog of pending cases and improve the fairness and efficiency of the disciplinary system.
• Represents the Police Commissioner in meetings with representatives of the District Attorney’s Offices, the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and other outside legal and investigative agencies to enhance cooperation and coordination of efforts between those agencies and the Department’s disciplinary process.
  
  

Preferred Skills

Prior prosecution/litigation experience.

Experience supervising attorneys conducting trials, hearings and plea negotiations.

Minimum Qualifications

• A license to practice law in the State of New York; and
  
  

three (3) years of recent full-time relevant and responsible legal experience subsequent to admission to the bar, one (1) year of which must have been in the area of Municipal Law Enforcement.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.