The entire force of unarmed peace officers at city shelters are being trained in the use of pepper spray, the Daily News has learned.
The move comes as the city, in response to a recent spate of violence in its shelter system, enlisted the NYPD to train Department of Homeless Services officers.
Only 169 — less than a quarter of the 700 DHS officers — know how to use pepper spray. But the rest are now being trained at the NYPD Academy.
NYPD officers recently started using a more potent spray, because the weaker strain they were previously equipped with didn’t work on dogs and often had little effect on the emotionally disturbed and those high on drugs. DHS officers will use the same, more potent spray.
The News reported Wednesday that corrections officers are being brought in to help with some of the training, raising eyebrows, given the swirl of criticism against the Corrections Department.
An NYPD source, however, said the Corrections training will consist of two hours and teach DHS peace officers how to police dormitory-style settings, common in some shelters.
Other sources said DHS requested help from Corrections because of the department’s expertise in dealing with gang violence and drug dealing.
