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The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police was organized on November 30, 1901, in Rochester, New York and incorporated in 1957. It is a not for profit organization dedicated to serve the people of the State of New York in the maintenance of law and order and to support the more than 500 Chiefs of Police as they carry out the functions of their office.

The primary objective of the Association is to achieve professional recognition, uniformity of operation and the advancement of the general welfare of the police profession through the education of its members.

The primary purpose of the Association is an educational one; to gather, disseminate, and promote useful and necessary information to the law enforcement agencies of the State of New York. Our ultimate aim and purpose is to develop a more efficient and effective law enforcement and criminal justice system.

We are an Association made up of Police Chiefs, Commissioners, Superintendents, Executives, Administrators, Agents-in-Charge. Our members are the most experienced and respected law enforcement officials in the State of New York from most law enforcement agencies in the State, including Village, Town, County, City, State and Federal Agencies, as well as Railroad Police.

Each of our Active Members has proven himself by achieving a high position of leadership and responsibility in his individual and respective law enforcement agency.

We also have Associate Members who are concerned citizens who come from all areas of the State and all walks of life. They voluntarily and actively exhibit their support and concern for law and order and for good law enforcement by being members of our Association.

We have proven throughout the years to the people of this State that we are united, not only for the advancement of the general welfare of the police profession, but more specifically:

  • for the purpose of maintaining law and order,
  • for the improvement and professionalization of law enforcement,
  • to advocate and promote reforms in the laws in association and collaboration with the Legislature,
  • for the safety, protection and general welfare of all our citizens,
  • and to assist in and facilitate the administration of criminal justice on national, state and local levels.

The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police has proven throughout the years to the people of this State that we are united, not only for the advancement of the general welfare of the police profession, but more specifically:

  • for the purpose of maintaining law and order,
  • for the improvement and professionalization of law enforcement,
  • to advocate and promote reforms in the laws in association and collaboration with the Legislature,
  • for the safety, protection and general welfare of all our citizens,
  • and to assist in and facilitate the administration of criminal justice on national, state and local levels.
 

Statement from Chief Patrick D. Phelan, NYSACOP President

 The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police is a dedicated family of New York law enforcement leaders.  As such, we collectively denounce in the strongest terms, the illegal behavior that led to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN.   It is heartbreaking for us to see the conduct of a few individuals tarnish the honorable work of an overwhelming majority of dedicated police officers.  The members of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police and their officers strive for ethical excellence and procedural justice every day in service to our communities.  While we support peaceful and productive protests in search of social justice, we condemn illegal and violent behavior that result in personal injuries on our streets and the destruction of property in our neighborhoods.  As civil unrest continues in many of our cities, we pray for the safety of all police officers and the public who we serve across New York. 

We further pledge that we will work collectively with our community partners to address their concerns and repair the legitimacy of law enforcement in the eyes of all the people we serve.