The Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) is a department of professional and dedicated men and women always ready to serve and protect the people who work at and travel through the New York and New Jersey’s critical transportation network, operated and maintained by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The Port Authority’s network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity.

The Port Authority Police Department (PAPD) consists of over 2,300 dedicated uniformed staff operating across thirteen facilities. The PAPD is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of all of the agency’s facilities. This includes five airports, four bi-state bridges and two tunnels, the Port Authority Bus Terminal, the PATH rail system, and the regional seaports in New York and New Jersey. The PAPD also is responsible for the safety and security of patrons and infrastructure at the 16-acre World Trade Center site, home to the iconic One World Trade Center.

The Port Authority Police have a unique mission: their primary duty is to safeguard some of the most critical infrastructure facilities in the world. Their span of control spreads across numerous jurisdictions within two states. Their singular responsibility is to provide security for thousands of employees, millions of commuters, passengers, and visitors who travel through the Port Authority’s transportation facilities and structures. The duties of the Port Authority Police include high-visibility police patrol, preliminary criminal investigation, emergency response, counter-terrorism tactics, commercial vehicle inspections, directed patrols and aircraft rescue and firefighting, if assigned to the ARFF position, successful candidates must be capable of meeting all the challenges of the job.

Port Authority Police Officer responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Patrol assigned posts or areas on foot or in an automobile, in uniform or in plain clothes, to ensure the safety and security of the community and Port Authority facilities
• Provide security at all Port Authority facilities
• Operate emergency equipment and respond to calls for service at airports and other facilities
• Administer first-aid and take other related actions as needed in emergencies
• Direct the movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic at or in the vicinity of a facility
• Enforce criminal and traffic laws
• Issue summonses, and charges against violators of municipal and state statutes, and;
• Give testimony as required

Mission of The Office of the Chief Security Officer

To protect the Port Authority’s customers, the general public, employees, and critical infrastructure by developing, implementing, and managing programs and projects that preserve life and property, increase safety and security, and support the Agency’s business objectives by strengthening our resilience and continuity of operations.

 

Vision

To provide the highest quality public safety, facility security operations, security program management, emergency management, and airport rescue and firefighting training services that are adaptable to ever-changing threats and risks, and reflect the most advanced techniques and best practices in the industry.

Ensure commitment to a knowledgeable, highly trained, disciplined workforce that partners with other Agency professionals across all sectors to maintain our reputation as a leader in the safety and security field.