[5] On November 16, 1999, School Safety Agent Orville M. Williams died after suffering a fatal heart attacking after responding to and breaking up several fights.

[1] School Safety Agent Vivian A. Samuels-Benjamin died on December 16, 2005, after suffering a heart attacked after being assaulted by a student inside I.S.

[2][3][4] As new recruits, Probationary School Safety Agents (PSSA's) are assigned to the NYPD Police Academy located in College Point, Queens for 20 weeks.

Recruits also train in Physical Fitness, Defensive Tactics, and American Heart Association Basic Life Support.

Due to the peace officer status of the Agents, some assist in taking emergency calls adjacent to school grounds.

SSD separates Agents by "levels" with a civilian assistant commissioner of the New York City Police Department overseeing the administrative functions of the division.

This division is not to be confused with the NYPD school crossing guards, which are civilian employees with no police or peace officer powers.