From the NYPL Blog: Genealogy Tips: New York Cops in The City Record
When police officers were involved in a newsworthy arrest or if they were promoted, that information is often reported in the New York Times (CUNY login required) and other New York Newspapers.
Spring 3100 often featured individual police officers, who often were authors of articles published in this, the NYPD magazine published 1930 - 1977 and again 1988 - present. We have digitized a few early issues which are freely available and we have most issues on our shelves Periodicals HV7551 .S6
You may also request copies of historical records from the NYC Municipal Archives
But for as with any NYPD records, you will probably need to submit a FOIL request.
Please also see suggestions for Researching
NYPD Officers | NYC Criminal Court Proceedings | NY Prisons, Jails & Prisoners
NYG&B [New York Genealogists and Biography Society] labs offers a Record Map Search This new tool allows you to search an index of articles in The Record and view the New York State locations related to the results returned by your search.
The Municipal Archives of NYC/Department of Records and Information Services holds many genealogical resources and assists with NYC based family research
JSTOR for Genealogists JSTOR can be the key resource to build out the story around your family history.
U.S. National Archives Resources for Genealogists
Family Search is free but some parts of the site require registration and log in. They maintain a wiki of New York Genealogical Resources online which is freely available.
NYPL U.S. Local History and Genealogy Division The Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy collects publications documenting American history on the national, state, and local levels, including extensive holdings on New York City history. The Division has a renowned collection of family histories and other genealogical collections, with a particular focus on the New York region. See especially their Selected Genealogy Resources and Vital Records Guide.
Smithsonian Institution (Washington D.C.) suggests How the Smithsonian can Help Research African American Family History
Reclaim the Records is a not-for-profit activist group of genealogists, historians, researchers, and open government advocates. They identify important genealogical records sets using FOIA, open data laws, litigation and perseverance and when successful post these records on their website. Including NYC Marriage License Records from 1908-1929 and 1930- 1995,
New York State Library & Archives is in Albany, NY They have a Guide to their Genealogical Resources