Police jurisdiction in America?

Question

hi. I'm comparing the 'cross-border' powers of police forces in the US, UK, mainland EU countries and Australia. Wondering if anyone can help me out with the following example:

Do New York City Police Officers have any recognised (by law or agreement) police powers such as to pursue suspects or make arrests outside NYC, for example, in the rest of NY state, or in neighbouring areas of New Jersey?

In the UK for example, officers of all 42 territorial forces in England & Wales have full police powers in those 2 home-nations (states), and officers of all 8 territorial police forces in Scotland have full police powers throughout that home-nation (state); But English & Welsh police officers have only limited powers of pursuit into Scotland, and Scottish forces only limited powers of pursuit into England/Wales. Although special executive orders can extend full powers to each.

Answer 1

I can't speak for NYPD.  However, most police agencies in the United States can pursue felons anywhere in the country.  Example: A person commits felony battery and flees the scene of the crime in a vehicle with a police car trailing behind him/her.  The officer activates his/her emergency lights and siren.  The suspect does not stop.  The suspect vehicle travels into the next state.  The officer can pursue the suspect until the suspect stops or the officer believes that the pursuit has become too large a danger to the public.  When the suspect stops in a neighboring state, the officer will then arrest him.  However, the officer must now properly extradite the suspect, now arrestee, from the said state and transport him back to his own state.  This means that a police agency in the state where the pursuit ended, will need to take the suspect into custody temporarily.  Extradition paperwork will then be filed.  When the extradition order is approved, the officer can transport the suspect to the officer's state.  Another Example:(varies slightly from state to state)  Same incident except the suspect stops in a neighboring county.  The suspect must be jailed in the county where he/she is arrested.  The suspect will most likely be charged with evading law enforcement in a vehicle, which is usually a class D felony, in the county where he/she was jailed.  The county where the original offense occurred, will file charges and most likely apply for an arrest warrant.  Also, the President has authorized all law enforcement officers to be able to carry firearms anywhere in the country, providing this does not contradict department policy.  Also, most American law enforcement officers possess the power to enforce federal law anywhere in the U.S.  I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Yes, you can even cross state lines if you are in active pursuit.

Answer 3

You have "hot pursuit" but then there is the "citizen arrest" power that we all have.  As a Border Patrol Agent, I witnessed another agent arrest a drunk and disorderly US citizen who was on a horse near the border.  He was loud and abusive and I suppose we could have charged him with "obstruction of justice" but the Senior Agent held him for the San Diego County Sheriff, who charged him with "drunk driving"

Answer 4

I cannot speak for New York but in most states your powers out side of your jurisdiction is very limited.  You have the "hot pursuit" where you may Chase a suspect outside of your jurisdiction (some state will not let you pursuit into other states).  You may act on a felony outside your jurisdiction (but any civilian can too) and that is about it.  Each state may choose to limit the jurisdiction.  It is different in each state.