The Offices of the New York State Inspector General today released a comprehensive report detailing significant gaps in firearm oversight, policy consistency, and critical incident response across the City University of New York (CUNY) public safety system. The review — prompted by multiple incidents involving armed CUNY peace officers, including an NYPD firefight following a domestic violence incident and instances of intoxicated officers carrying weapons on campus — found that CUNY’s firearm policies were outdated, inconsistently applied, and insufficient to ensure the safety of students, staff, and the public.
The Inspector General found that although CUNY employs more than 1,000 public safety officers — including over 400 peace officers authorized to carry firearms — a lack of uniform oversight, unclear or contradictory policies, and failure to review officers’ fitness for duty after mental health or domestic violence incidents created unnecessary risks across multiple campuses. The report also documents material deviations from CUNY policy in the handling of three significant incidents between 2020 and 2024, including a failure to conduct required internal reviews and failure to initiate timely disciplinary actions.
Since the incidents detailed in the report, and during the pendency of the Inspector General’s investigation, State leaders took decisive action to ensure consistency in standards across the firearms policies promulgated and maintained by all executive branch agencies and authorities. More specifically, as a result of a directive from the Director of State Operations, all such agencies and authorities must, using standards set forth by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), maintain comprehensive, uniform, and modernized firearms policies governing every aspect of firearm use, storage, and training, which are to be submitted to DCJS annually for review.
“Safety in New York’s public institutions depends on clear rules, responsible stewardship of state-issued firearms, and close attention to the risks associated with domestic violence and mental-health concerns,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. “New York has taken important steps to strengthen accountability, ensure consistent standards, and ensure that warning signs no longer go unaddressed. These reforms better protect the public and the public servants entrusted with these tools.”
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “The Inspector General’s report underscores the importance and need for clear and consistent firearm standards across all public safety agencies. DCJS has long supported this work, and the new statewide directive ensures every state agency and authority follows a uniform framework that leverages best practices, strengthens accountability, and helps keep New Yorkers safe.”
New York State Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, “The issues detailed in this report show how critical it is to address gaps before they lead to more violence or more victims. Strengthening firearm oversight and ensuring agencies follow clear, reliable standards are important steps toward creating safer environments for everyone.”
Key Findings
The report highlights several systemic deficiencies, including:
- Outdated and contradictory firearms policies: CUNY’s governing Operations Guide contains overlapping and inconsistent instructions, some of which have not been revised since the 1990s. Critical guidance—such as handling intoxicated officers, restoring firearm privileges, and responding to unauthorized firearm sightings on campus—is inconsistent or unclear.
- Inadequate firearms tracking and controls: CUNY lacks a uniform requirement for firearm logbooks or routine end-of-shift firearm checks. Some campuses have created their own procedures, while others have none—leading to significant monitoring failures.
- Improvised responses to dangerous conduct: In 2022 and 2024, two separate CUNY officers arrived on campus while appearing intoxicated and carrying firearms (one unlicensed). CUNY lacked clear procedures for immediate response, supervision, or securing weapons.
- Failure to conduct mandated internal reviews after domestic violence or mental health crises: In the 2020 incident—where a CUNY peace officer involved in a domestic violence event later shot two NYPD officers—CUNY restored the officer’s firearm solely based on NYPD license reinstatement, without conducting its own investigation or psychological review.
New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Executive Director Kelli Nicholas Owens said, “This case serves as a reminder of why we work tirelessly to ensure New York supports survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive policies to prevent domestic violence and keep New Yorkers safe. Under Governor Kathy Hochul, New York has made progress in enhancing safety for victims and survivors, as well as holding those who cause harm accountable. This includes strengthening the state’s laws to remove guns from individuals who commit domestic violence and enacting Executive Order 17, a pioneering policy requiring all state agencies to adopt a Gender-Based Violence and Workplace Policy, which was expanded this year to all bidders doing business with New York State.”
Connie Neal, Executive Director of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence said: “Domestic violence has deep and far-ranging impacts for tens of thousands of people across our state. This is why risks related to domestic violence should be taken seriously, particularly when situations involve access to firearms, substance use, and mental health concerns. I applaud the work of the NYS Inspector General and her team for their leadership with this report and set of recommendations. When the foundation of policies, practices, and enforcement procedures are grounded in safety and system responsibility, we can take significant strides toward preventing domestic violence.”
Key Recommendations
The Inspector General is calling for immediate reforms across the CUNY system, including:
- Modernizing and reconciling all firearms-related policies within its Operations Guide
- Implementing mandatory system-wide firearm controls, including logbooks and daily locker checks
- Requiring new training on identifying and responding to unauthorized or unsafe firearm possession on campus
- Mandating internal fitness-for-duty reviews after any domestic violence allegation, mental health crisis, or suspension of a firearm license
- Promptly commencing disciplinary actions for any violations of firearm policies and requiring independent review before the reinstatement of previously revoked firearms privileges
- Requiring written acknowledgments that all public safety personnel have read and agree to comply with updated firearm policies
This report underscores how lapses in firearm oversight can jeopardize public trust and community well-being. The review also highlights the elevated risks posed by domestic violence and mental health crises in connection with firearms and calls for stronger safeguards across the CUNY system and all state agencies that arm its employees.
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said: “CUNY is appreciative of this comprehensive review of our firearms policies and procedures and has already taken steps to better meet the demands of maintaining public safety at all our campuses. These steps include expanding public safety training, partnering with the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, revising our emergency operations plans and improving our recruitment efforts to ensure we protect our campuses with the most qualified public safety officers. My top priority is the safety of our community, and we will continue to take steps to enhance our firearms controls, training and accountability.”
“This case exemplifies how an independent oversight investigation into a single incident can identify and fix systemic problems across government,” said Inspector General Lang. “State-issued guns are an extension of public trust in the truest sense, and in modernizing gun policies, embracing accountability, and prioritizing domestic-violence prevention, New York will be stronger and safer for all.”
Watch a recording of the press conference
This report references incidents of domestic violence and gun violence. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence and wants help, emergency shelter, information, or support, contact the New York State Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-942-6906 or Text 844-997-2121. If you have questions relating to Gun Safety in New York, you can visit gunsafety.ny.gov or speak with the New York State Police during normal business hours by dialing: 1-855-LAW-GUNS. As always, if you are in immediate danger, please dial 911. If you or someone you know is concerned about being a victim of gun violence, visit gunsafety.ny.gov/anti-gun-violence-initiatives to learn about anti-gun violence initiatives and resources.
