Fire Department · Career
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Newark, NJ · Essex County
Described by the department as the largest transit police department in the country, operating across thirteen Port Authority facilities in New York and New Jersey, including five airports, four bi-state bridges, two tunnels, the Port Authority Bus Termin
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Department careers page ↗The Port Authority Police Department traces its roots to June 1928, when 40 officers - originally called Bridgemen - were assigned to police the Goethals Bridge and Outerbridge Crossing. As the Port Authority's network of bridges, tunnels, airports, and terminals expanded through the 20th century, so did its police force; today PAPD numbers in the thousands of uniformed officers operating across thirteen facilities in New York and New Jersey.
PAPD officers carry a broad public-safety mandate that goes well beyond conventional law enforcement. In addition to patrol, criminal investigation, and counterterrorism duties, officers assigned to Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) respond to aircraft emergencies, aircraft accidents and fuel fires, and provide emergency medical care and hazmat response at the Port Authority's airports. The department also fields specialized units including the Emergency Service Unit (high-angle and technical rescue, SWAT), K-9, Commercial Vehicle Inspection, and a Counter Terrorism Unit.
Recruits train at the PAPD Police Academy in Jersey City, with a Regional Training Center at JFK Airport, covering law enforcement fundamentals alongside firefighting, first aid, water safety and rescue, and antiterrorism response. PAPD has taken the national 30x30 pledge to grow the share of women officers and runs youth and community-engagement programs, including its own Youth Services Unit combating child trafficking and supporting at-risk youth.
MissionThe Port Authority Police Department is dedicated to providing cutting-edge law enforcement services to protect the region and those who transverse it. Our department is committed to accomplishing this mission by employing a comprehensive transportation and counterterrorism policing strategy, while ensuring our core tenets of Pride, Service, and Distinction are always upheld.
PAPD recruits new officer classes periodically rather than on a continuous basis; the department directs applicants to its dedicated recruitment site to join a notification list for the next hiring cycle. The department emphasizes recruiting a diverse workforce reflective of the communities it serves, including through its 30x30 pledge to increase the representation of women officers.
The PAPD Police Academy is located in Jersey City, NJ, with a Regional Training Center at JFK Airport. Recruits receive intensive training in New York and New Jersey law, behavioral sciences, police practices and procedures, laws of arrest, court procedures and testimony, rules of evidence, defensive tactics, first aid, firefighting, police patrol, traffic duty, firearms training, defensive driving, and water safety and rescue. Officers return throughout their careers for refresher and advanced instruction in antiterrorism, behavioral assessment, active-shooter response, and weapons of mass destruction. The Academy also operates the Koebel Memorial Police Firearms Training Center in Jersey City.
I am interested in joining the PAPD - what do I do?
Visit the PAPD's dedicated recruitment site, papdrecruit.com, to learn more about the application process and joining the force.
How can I report suspicious activity?
Call the PAPD terrorist/suspicious-activity hotline at 800-828-7273 (See Something, Say Something).
Who do I contact for a general PAPD inquiry?
Call 201-239-3500 for a general inquiry, or contact the Police Desk at the specific Port Authority facility in question.
How do I file a complaint against a Port Authority police officer?
Police integrity issues are handled by the Office of the Inspector General, whose Office of Investigations oversees units that monitor the integrity, courtesy, and professionalism of PAPD members.
How can I commend the actions of a Port Authority police officer?
Commendation letters can be sent to the Superintendent of Police/Director, Public Safety Department, Port Authority of NY & NJ, 241 Erie Street Room 302, Jersey City, NJ 07310.