When a police officer is killed or wounded, the shock reverberates far beyond the precinct walls. A 2021 shootout that left two NYPD officers wounded when they responded to a domestic violence incident involving a City University of New York (CUNY) peace officer was one such moment.
That tragedy highlighted not only the dangers of domestic violence, but also raised an alarm about long-standing systemic failures in the oversight of state-issued firearms to public safety employees at CUNY that prevailed until that incident five years ago, but which has since mercifully seen the imposition of much needed reforms. Reforms which stretch beyond CUNY’s campuses to all New York State executive branch agencies and authorities.
The facts of the CUNY example are stark. A CUNY peace officer, who carried a state-issued firearm in the course of his duties, used his personal weapon to shoot two NYPD officers who were responding to a domestic disturbance at his home in Queens and was himself ultimately shot and killed. Those NYPD officers — whose bravery prevented an even greater tragedy — were doing exactly what the public expects: protecting a victim of domestic violence. Yet they were met with gunfire.
Our investigation found that the CUNY officer’s behavior prior to the shooting raised multiple red flags — he had a documented history of domestic incidents, and, contrary to regulations, previously brought his state-issued firearm home with him after work and, after a previous NYPD intervention at his home had his personal and CUNY-issued firearm taken for a period of time. CUNY had a patchwork of policies for its armed employees that were lacking in both consistency and enforcement.
And while CUNY provides a prime example — they were not alone — as there has existed no model policy or consistent standards for New York State employees who carried firearms in the course of their official state duties.
While the New York State Police and other police agencies operated under well-defined internal firearms policies, the same could not be said for many other agencies. The result was an uneven system where some employees with peace officer status were rightly subject to rigorous controls, while others operated in relative opacity.
State-issued guns are an extension of public trust in the truest sense. They confer the authority to use deadly force in the service of public safety. With that authority must come the highest standards of accountability. Yet the rules governing who could carry, store, or access those weapons differed dramatically from one agency to the next.
Thanks to statewide leadership, that has changed.
All executive branch agencies are now required to promulgate and maintain a comprehensive written policy governing all aspects of firearm use, storage, and training. These policies, which must meet or exceed standards set by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Office of Public Safety, must also be submitted annually to DCJS for review.
This also dovetails with important work the state has done in recent years to identify and address domestic violence. Now, when a state employee is arrested for domestic violence or served with an order of protection they must surrender their firearms. The passage last month of a law requiring that police remove guns from the hands of abusers represents another critical step forward.
At the same time, agencies have strengthened the connection between employee wellness and public safety. Peace officers — like police, corrections, and other law enforcement personnel — face unique stressors that can take a toll on their mental health. Ensuring that those who carry state-issued firearms have access to confidential counseling, routine wellness checks, and early intervention services is not only compassionate but essential to public safety.
The authority to carry a gun on behalf of the state is not a right — it is a tremendous responsibility. It is the state’s responsibility in turn to make sure that power is wielded safely, wisely, and never again with such devastating consequences.
I am proud of the work New York has done to turn tragedy into action. We owe it to the officers who risk their lives in service, to the families shattered by preventable violence, and to every New Yorker who entrusts their safety to those sworn to protect them.
Lang is the New York State inspector general.
