City Recruiting Marshals For Court Orders

The Bloomberg administration last week launched a recruitment drive to hire more City Marshals to enforce Civil Court orders, the Department of Investigation has announced.

City Marshals are not salaried city employees. They work as independent public officers who are appointed by the Mayor and earn fees, set by state law, for enforcing court orders. Those enforcement duties include: evictions, towing, seizures of utility meters, and money judgments. Their work, which must be carefully documented, is overseen by DOI.

Qualifications Needed

To qualify, candidates must be U.S. citizens, New York City residents at the time of appointment, and at least 18 years old. They also must have a high school diploma or GED and have to pass a background check. In addition, appointees must demonstrate the ability to obtain a required bond, which is currently $100,000.

"Being a City Marshal offers a unique opportunity for individuals interested in running their own business while also serving the public," said Peter J. Madonia, chair of the Mayor's Committee on City Marshals. "The work is challenging, requires someone who enjoys working with the public and is also very rewarding. Marshals provide the essential service of enforcing civil court orders and they do it at no cost to the city's taxpayers."

Under a law enacted in September 2006, retired cops, correction officers, firefighters, fire marshals, and deputy sheriffs can work as City Marshals while still receiving their pensions.

There are currently 44 City Marshals who carry out thousands of court orders each year, DOI said. Further information can be obtained at www.nyc.gov/marshals.