Patrol Division

The New Paltz Police Department Patrol Division is the lifeblood of our department. These officers provide 24/7 police protection to the residents, businesses and visitors in New Paltz. With training ranging from the basic police academy to cultural awareness and resolution dispute, our officers are the first line, and the most important one, in making a difference. Additionally, all officers are trained at a minimum level of New York State Certified First Responders and carry automated external defibrillators. These officers can provide life saving medical assistance to those that are injured or sick.

Communications Division

The New Paltz Police Department Communications Division allows New Paltz residents, businesses and visitors and our officers to have access to specially trained emergency communications dispatchers around the clock. Simply by dialing (845) 255-1323, you will reach a police department dispatcher day or night who will be able to give you immediate assistance or get you the help you may need. Our dispatchers go through a rigorous in-house training program that gives them the ability to handle all your needs and at the same time have the local knowledge of the area that can sometimes make a difference.

Detective Division

New Paltz Police detectives have received extensive training in crime scene management and processing, interview and interrogation and surveillance skills. Detectives are assigned to investigate all major crimes, unattended deaths, serious motor vehicle accidents and minor crimes that require more time than patrol officer can reasonably provide.  Additionally, detectives are in charge of evidence processing and maintenance and the sex offender registry. Our Detectives work closely with all other local police departments and state and federal agencies.  Members of the detective division also coordinate all department cases with the Ulster County District Attorney's Office. Employee applicants are also investigated by members of the Detective Division. The New Paltz Police Department Detective Division can be reached by dialing (845) 255-1357.

K-9 Division

The Town of New Paltz Police Department K-9 division was formed in 1995.  Since then, two dogs have proudly served the department and community.  K-9 Nero was the first in the department serving with handler Robert Knoth from 1995 to 2004.  Our current K-9 is Zeus a 4 year old German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix imported from Czechoslovakia. Officer Knoth and K9 Zeus attended the Orange County Sheriff's Department K9 Academy in 2004.  The K-9 academy consisted of 16 weeks of Patrol School and 6 weeks of Narcotic detection.  The basic functions of the K-9 unit are: Tracking of suspects or missing people, conducting building searches, article searches and evidence recovery, disorderly crowd control, community policing events, the apprehension of suspects and assisting patrol and detective divisions in day to day functions of the department and other surrounding agencies.  K-9 Zeus is also trained in the detection of many narcotic odors. 

Community Relations Division

The New Paltz Police Department Community Relations Division is handled by patrol officers who have received specialized training in "community based" issues including; forming neighborhood watches, organizing community safety days that provide information on topics such as; the prevention of crime tips and child fingerprinting.

Motorcycle Division

The New Paltz Police Department Motorcycle Division is the department's newest division going into service in May of 2006. Its primary objective is to be both proactive and responsive to incidents where accessibility to the scene is not readily available due to traffic congestion, areas where normal vehicular traffic is excluded by barricade and/or circumstances where a police vehicle of a smaller profile is most advantageous. Secondary responsibilities will include details for crime prevention and educational programs, law enforcement displays, parades, funeral escorts and details, fairs and carnivals and any other functions or circumstances that would warrant a highly mobile police unit in a congested environment.

Bicycle Division

The New Paltz Police Department Bicycle Division supplements our patrol cars and motorcycle and allows officers to access areas other vehicles cannot access. Officers, who have received specialized police mountain bike training, ride these units during their shifts and can approach a "high risk" scene in a quiet and covert manor if necessary.

DARE Division

The New Paltz Police Department has two certified Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) instructors who teach this awareness program in the New Paltz Central School District. Beginning with elementary school students and going all the way up to high school students, our officers instruct them on basic drug awareness, clean living, choosing right from wrong and how to "just say no!"