DEP Announces Promotion of Four K-9 Officers

K-9 Officers Were Promoted to Detective Specialists During Ceremony in Kingston

Photos are available on DEP’s Flickr page

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recently promoted four veteran K-9 officers during a ceremony at the Staff Sgt. Robert H. Dietz DEP Police Academy in Kingston, N.Y. The officers, who combined have 64 years of experience with the DEP Police Division, were promoted to the rank of detective specialist.

“These detectives and their canine partners are part of a highly skilled, trained and dedicated police force that protects the nation’s largest water supply every day,” DEP Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said. “On behalf of the New Yorkers they serve, I want to extend my congratulations to these detectives and their families on the occasion of their well-deserved promotions.”

The following officers were promoted to the rank of detective specialist:

• Det. Kenneth J. Bauer was appointed to the DEP Police in September 1999. He began his career in the patrol division at the Ashokan Precinct. He joined the canine unit in July 2003. He and his canine partner, Killie, are currently assigned to the Beerston Precinct. Bauer attended SUNY Delhi and served in the U.S. Navy.
• Det. Douglas DiSciullo was appointed to the DEP Police in August 2001. He began his career in the patrol division at the Neversink Precinct. He joined the canine unit in July 2003. He and his canine partner, Mycal, are currently assigned to the Ashokan Precinct. DiSciullo attended Johnston State College and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
• Det. Kelly L. Kilpatrick was appointed to the DEP Police in October 2002. She began her career in the patrol division at the Ashokan Precinct. She joined the canine unit in September 2003. She and her canine partner Bingham are currently assigned to the Gilboa Precinct. Det. Kilpatrick is a New York State certified canine patrol, explosives detection and narcotics detection trainer and examiner. She attended Dutchess County Community College and Empire State College, earning a bachelor’s degree in business management.
• Det. Carlos J. Whearty was appointed to the DEP Police in July 2002. He began his career in the patrol division at the Ashokan Precinct. He joined the canine unit in April 2007. He and his canine partner, Val, are currently assigned to the Eastview Precinct. Det. Whearty attended Springfield College.

The DEP Police Division was established more than 100 years ago. Its approximately 200 sworn members are charged with protecting the city’s water supply system, which includes more than 2,000 square miles of watershed land across nine counties, hundreds of miles of tunnels and aqueducts, 14 wastewater treatment plants, laboratories, and chlorination facilities. DEP police patrol the watershed by foot, bicycle, all-terrain vehicle, motorcycle, boat and helicopter. They also maintain specially trained units that include a detective bureau, emergency service unit, canine unit and aviation unit.

DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than 1 billion gallons of high-quality water each day to more than 9.5 million New Yorkers. This includes more than 70 upstate communities and institutions in Ulster, Orange, Putnam and Westchester counties who consume an average of 110 million total gallons of drinking water daily from New York City’s water supply system. This water comes from the Catskill, Delaware, and Croton watersheds that extend more than 125 miles from the City, and the system comprises 19 reservoirs, three controlled lakes, and numerous tunnels and aqueducts. DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 scientists, engineers, surveyors, watershed maintainers and other professionals in the watershed. In addition to its $70 million payroll and $166 million in annual taxes paid in upstate counties, DEP has invested more than $1.7 billion in watershed protection programs—including partnership organizations such as the Catskill Watershed Corporation and the Watershed Agricultural Council—that support sustainable farming practices, environmentally sensitive economic development, and local economic opportunity. In addition, DEP has a robust capital program with $20.7 billion in investments planned over the next 10 years that will create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. For more information, visit nyc.gov/dep, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.