In 1993, Dennis Procter graduated from SUNY Brockport and started pursuing a career in Law enforcement. He took all of the available civil service exams and applied to local, state, and federal agencies. In 1994, he received a letter of acceptance into the New York State Department of Correctional Services as a Corrections Officer.
Upon graduation from the Corrections Academy in Albany, Procter was assigned to Sing Sing Correctional Facility located in Ossining, NY. While at Sing Sing he worked in the facility’s Special Housing Unit which oversees the disciplinary inmates and was a proud member of the C.E.R.T team which is Correction’s tactical team.
In 1998 Procter was hired by the NYPD and upon graduation from the police academy he was assigned to the 24th Precinct in Manhattan. He was promoted to the Precinct’s Anti-Crime Unit which was primarily responsible for observing patterns of violent crimes and forming a plan on how to catch the individuals. The unit was very proactive and as a result numerous arrests of violent criminals were made and often prevented them from making more victims.
In 2002, Procter transferred from the NYPD to the Town of Ramapo Police Department as a patrolman located in Rockland County NY. In 2006 he became the Policemen’s Benevolent Association’s (PBA) president and continued to serve as union president for seven years. In 2010 he was promoted to Community Police Officer and launched the Police Athletic League for the Town.
In 2013 Procter reached his career goal – he was promoted to Detective.
“I have always felt that it is the noblest rank in law enforcement,” Procter said. “It is not something you can take a test for. It is a position you have to earn with your merits. There is a very different respect the world over amongst law enforcement when they learn you are a Detective.”
As a detective, Procter served as the homicide detective, the special victims’ detective, arson investigations, narcotics, robberies, burglaries, juveniles, and white-collar crime. He was also involved with training for police officers.
“We handle it all which in itself becomes quite the challenge,” Procter said.
Procter also serves as the Police Academy Instructor, teaches the Instructor Development Course, and runs the NYS Basic Investigators course – the initial training provided for future or newly promoted Investigators or Detectives throughout the state.
“I can honestly say that I have been fortunate in my career choice. I am in my 27th year and I truly enjoy going to work. I can say that the camaraderie and the challenges I observe on a daily bases is an indescribable award. It is a front row seat to life.”– Dennis Procter ’93