PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT - WEBINAR
DETECTIVES: HOW IT’S DONE IN THE NYPD
UK detectives met virtually with their counterparts across the Atlantic, gaining valuable insights into how the New York Police Department
manages caseloads, how it has successfully recruited and retained talent and the importance of recognition
Deputy Chief Carlos Ortiz of the NYPD, who leads the Special Victims Unit (SVU), a team of around 350 highly experienced detectives whose expertise is crucial for handling sensitive crimes and providing support to victims, joined PFEW Detectives Lead Mel Warnes for a special insights webinar, hosted by PFEW, on September 19.
Deputy Chief Ortiz has served NYPD for almost 27 years, mostly working on response before transitioning into a detective role in Bronx and Manhattan. Two years ago, he joined the SVU, a department established in 2003 and has handled more than 145,000 cases of sexual violence and child physical abuse. The SVU has been met with multiple challenges in the past, such as unbearable caseloads. However, once Deputy Chief Ortiz stepped in, he has made extraordinary, tangible improvements in the way the department operates and how it treats its workforce.
Reward and recognition is a vital aspect when it comes to nurturing a happy, healthy and driven workforce, and since taking up the role, Deputy Chief Ortiz has
introduced ways of celebrating the hard work of colleagues, including personal letters and a detective of the month board. They also host awards dinners for the detectives and their families, with senior leadership and stakeholders in attendance. “The little things we control as supervisors
have a tremendous impact on our staff,” added his colleague Sergeant John
“The little things we control as supervisors have a tremendous impact on our staff.”
Mattina. “If people are working hard for you and if there are small ways to reward them, you have to take advantage of it.” Helping to protect the mental health of
detectives was also discussed. Last year, Deputy Chief Ortiz implemented vicarious trauma training, providing the unit with strategies to help. Passionate about empowering supervisors, the training also extends to line managers to encourage them to regularly check in with their colleagues. Moving on to the topic of recruitment,
retention and workloads, both officers mentioned how applications to join their department have soared, attributing it to the higher levels of morale seen in the SVU in comparison to other departments. When asked by a delegate about their case load to investigator ratio, Deputy Chief Ortiz highlighted how there used to be 100 cases a year per detective, which have now been halved since his review and push for further recruitment. “If you’re drowning in cases, you’re
going to drown,” he said. “I have been very supported by my higher ups; they made it a point I got the people I needed.”
When asked about financial rewards, they explained a police officer can be promoted to detective after 18 months of investigation where their salary is raised. According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a detective is $118,209 (£88,526). Direct entry recruitment and concerns over a predominately young workforce was also raised by UK delegates, whereby the NYPD officers explained they have also seen an influx in younger applicants but are keen to focus on their development through mentoring.
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15 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2024
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