Aviation Unit:

Founded in 1928, it has the distinction of being the oldest police aviation unit in the world. Based at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, the Aviation Unit responds to various emergencies and tasks, supporting Patrol as well as other units of the N.Y.P.D. From deploying divers during air-sea rescues to placing officers atop hi-rise buildings during emergencies, the Aviation Unit is vital to the NYPD in providing New York City with the fastest and most professional response available. The Aviation Unit consists entirely of helicopters.

Emergency Service Unit:

The Emergency Service Unit and the Canine Unit provide specialized equipment, expertise and support to the various units within the NYPD. From auto accidents to building collapses to hostage situations, "ESU" officers are called on when the situation requires advanced equipment and expertise. The Canine Unit provides assistance during searches for missing persons, perpetrators and evidence.

The NYPD does not have a traditional S.W.A.T. unit as most law enforcement agencies in the United States have. The Emergency Service Unit qualifies in the role of a S.W.A.T. unit and much more. The "ESU" is the multifaceted and multitalented element of the NYPD. Members of "ESU" are some of the most highly trained experts of the Department, with abilities that include handling heavy weapons to securing dangerous animals such as full grown tigers kept in public housing apartments. They are also trained in ROCO high angle rope rescue as well as tactical rappelling and fast rope use. 14 of the 23 NYPD officers who died on September 11th, 2001 were from ESU. They are considered the 911 for members of the Department.

The economic downturn of the 1970s led to some extremely difficult times for the city. The Bronx, in particular, was plagued by arson, and an atmosphere of lawlessness permeated the city. In addition, the city's financial crisis led to a hiring freeze on all city departments, including the NYPD, from 1976 to 1980.

This was followed by the crack epidemic of the late 1980s and early 1990s that may have caused the city's homicide rate to soar to an all-time high. By 1990, New York set a record of 2,245 murders, a record that has yet to be broken by any US major city. Petty thefts associated with drug addiction were also increasingly common.

On September 11, 2001, 23 NYPD officers were killed when the World Trade Center collapsed due to terrorist attacks. That was more lives lost than in any other year in the NYPD's history.

Historically, the NYPD has suffered from numerous allegations of corruption. However, as the many commissions convened to inquire about these matters have shown, these instances of corruption reflect far greater on the individuals involved then they do on a systemic form of corruption. In fact, taking the instances of corruption statistically when compared to the sheer numbers of the department as a whole, the NYPD actually has a lower corruption rate than many other departments. Most commissions convened to inquire about the source of the corruption blame low morale and chronically low salary as largely contributing factors.

Pay for new officers fell precipitously in the latest contract negotiations as the result of a state arbitration panel judge's decree, and new hires now earn $25,100, the lowest salary for a new police officer since 1985. Upon the completion of the Police Academy (six months), the annual salary increases to $32,700. Adjusted for inflation, this is the lowest pay in history for rookie NYPD cops. Given that conventional wisdom purports an inverse relationship between salary and corruption, as witnessed in jurisdictions such as New Orleans, the judicial decision to lower starting pay for new officers during the time they are most impressionable seems particularly unwise to many. Also, NYPD officers are expected to purchase virtually all of their own uniforms and equipment, an outlay that can easily run into thousands of dollars. Top pay for experienced officers is $59,588, not including overtime and other forms of compensation. Nearby departments pay considerably more, up to $50,000 for new hires or over $90,000 for experienced. Over the years, hundreds of city officers have left for higher paying jobs with other agencies, notably the Nassau County Police Department, the Suffolk County Police Department, and the Port Authority Police of New York and New Jersey.

Large numbers of NYPD officers have also migrated to the New York City Fire Department, where, even though pay is almost the same, work schedules are more attractive and relations with the public more amicable. Contract changes in 2006, however, now forbid the prior practice of allowing police officers who join the fire department to transfer their seniority for compensation purposes. With all new firefighters now compelled to begin working at the same starting pay, the number of NYPD officers "rolling over" to the FDNY is likely to fall dramatically.