Westchester County Department of Public Safety

The Westchester County Department of Public Safety is now accepting applications for seasonal park rangers to patrol county parks for the 2025 summer season. 

Uniformed park rangers work under the supervision of county police officers to maintain a safe and enjoyable atmosphere in the county’s parks. They assist park users, provide information on park rules and procedures, help in searches for lost children, perform basic first aid on occasion and make regular security checks of buildings and facilities.

First-time park rangers are paid $17 hourly. Salaries are higher for those who were previously employed as a Westchester County seasonal park ranger. To qualify, applicants must:

• be a high school graduate
• be at least 18 years of age
• be a U.S. citizen
• possess a valid New York State driver’s license by the time of appointment.

Accepted candidates must attend a 162-hour training program at the Westchester County Police Academy.

Individuals interested must complete the application in the above link and return it by Feb. 23, 2025, to:

Westchester County Police, Support Services Division
Attn: SPR Application
1 Saw Mill River Parkway
Hawthorne, NY 10532

In order to have or carry a pistol in New York State, you must first obtain a pistol license. In Westchester County, the Licensing Officers are judges or justices of the Supreme or County Court (Penal Law §265.00(10)). The Westchester County Department of Public Safety Pistol License Unit acts as the investigative service to the Licensing Officer for all firearm license matters.  The Westchester County Clerk issues pistol licenses and is the repository for all pistol license records.  Carry firearm licenses (Penal Law §400.00(2)(f)) issued by Westchester County are valid for three years. If you have any questions about pistol licensing matters, contact us.

Once you complete your New York State Pistol License application and attachments, and have complied with all application instructions, you must then make an appointment with the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Pistol License Unit to be fingerprinted and interviewed by calling (914) 995-2709.

Pistol License Safety and Information Handbook for Westchester  County
Please obtain your copy of the Pistol License Safety and Information Handbook for Westchester County.  You are required to read and be familiar with the contents of this Handbook.

Mandatory Firearms Training
All applicants for a Carry firearm license must submit proof of completion of a sixteen-hour mandatory in-person firearms training and a two hour live fire course evidenced by a certificate of completion issued in the applicant’s name and affirmed, under the penalty of perjury, by a duly authorized instructor (New York State Penal Law §400.00(19)).

All applicants for a Premises firearm license or semi-automatic rifle endorsement must complete the NRA basic safety course.

Pistol License Application Forms
Please use our latest forms revision dated Sept. 1, 2022.   Prior dated forms do not meet legal requirements and will not be accepted. 

Please use the dropdowns below to find out which forms you must complete.

PISTOL LICENSE CHECKLIST

If you are Applying for the First Time for a NYS Pistol License

• New Application (Fillable - Complete Packet)

Individual files below

• New Application (NYS License Application Instructions)
• PPB-3 (Filled in duplicate)
• Worksheet (Long Version)
• Character References x 4
• Authorization for Release of Personal Information
• Request for Records Check
• Penal Law 400.00(18) Notification
• Penal Law 400(18) Receipt of Notification
• Statement of Firearms Co-Ownership (if applies)
• Proof of Residency Not in Your Name (if applies)

Attachment (if applies)

• Retired/Active Law Enforcement Officer
• Premise Business
• Premise Dwelling
• NYS Firearms License Request for Public Record Exemption (if desired)

IF YOU ARE AMENDING AN EXISTING NYS LICENSE

(Add/Remove Firearm, Add Semi-Auto Rifle, Change a Restriction, Name Change, Update Personal Info, Duplicate, Surrender a License, etc.)

• First Amendment submitted after 09/01/2022 (Fillable - Complete Packet)

Individual files below:

• PPB-5 (Filled in duplicate)
• Worksheet (Short Version)
• Authorization for Release of Personal Information
• Penal Law 400(18) Receipt of Notification
• Statement of Firearms Co-Ownership (if applies)

RIFLE LICENSE CHECKLIST

IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR A SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE ENDORSEMENT AND DO NOT HAVE A NYS PISTOL LICENSE

• New Application (Fillable - Complete Packet)

Individual files below

• New Application (NYS License Application Instructions)
• PPB-3 (Filled in duplicate)
• Worksheet (Long Version)
• Character References x 4
• Authorization for Release of Personal Information
• Request for Records Check
• Penal Law 400.00(18) Notification
• Penal Law 400(18) Receipt of Notification
• Statement of Firearms Co-Ownership (if applies)
• Proof of Residency Not in Your Name (if applies)
• NYS Firearms License Request for Public Record Exemption (if desired)

RENEWING YOUR NYS PISTOL/SEMI-AUTO RIFLE LICENSE

Renewing your NYS Pistol / Semi-Auto Rifle License

• Renewal Packet for 1st Renewal after 09/01/2022

Individual files below

• Westchester County Recertification Form
• Worksheet Update
• Penal Law section 400.00(18) Receipt of Notification

If you are renewing a Full Carry Permit you must complete the Mandatory NYS Firearms Training Course (18 Hour Course) by an authorized Westchester County Sanctioned Program.

OTHER FORMS

• NYS Dealer / Gunsmith Application Packet
• Statement of Firearms Co-Ownership
• Affidavit of Private Sales of Firearms
• Proof of Residency Not in Your Name
• Attachment Premises Business
• Attachment Premises Dwelling
• Form PPB-3 Continuation Sheet (use only if registering more than 4 firearms - submit in duplicate)

Public Safety maintains a number of telephone and electronic tips lines so the public can provide valuable information about suspicious or criminal activity. Calls, e-mails and text messages to these tips lines are confidential. Tipsters can remain anonymous if they chose.

The telephone tips lines are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tips sent by e-mail and text messaging are forwarded to detectives but may not be reviewed immediately.

Tips lines should not be used to contact police in an emergency. In the event of a crime in progress or other emergency, dial 911.

Telephone Tips Lines

• General Tips Line (for all purposes): (800) 898-TIPS (8477)
• Narcotics Hotline/Graffiti Hotline: (914) 741-4334

Electronic Tips
Send e-mail, text messages, photos and small video clips to .