How is seniority determined in the New York State Police?

Seniority in the New York State Police is determined primarily by rank and then by the length of service in that specific rank. This means that an individual’s position in terms of seniority is not solely based on how many years they have served in total, but rather how long they have held their specific rank. This system ensures that promotions and responsibilities are given based on both the achievement of rank and the experience an individual has accrued while serving in that position.

The rationale for this method is to balance the respect and authority inherent in ranks with the experience that comes from time spent in those roles. Consequently, officers who may have been with the force for a long time but have not advanced in rank may have different seniority compared to someone who has recently started but has been promoted more rapidly.

In contrast, exclusively using years of service would overlook the importance of rank, while using date of birth would not accurately reflect an officer’s capabilities or experience in their role. Similarly, determining seniority by length of service at a current location does not account for an officer’s overall career trajectory and experiences in various positions or duties throughout their service.