N.Y. Police Certain Municipalities Law § 4
Any commissioner of police, superintendent of police, chief of police, or other officer or officers, having the management, control or direction of the police force of any city of the first or second class in this state, (excepting such cities which on December thirty-first, nineteen hundred and ten, had in force and operation a three platoon system) who shall fail to divide such force into three platoons within the time prescribed in section one of this act shall be deemed to have forfeited his office and, upon the written petition of any citizen of the city in which such violation took place, must be removed therefrom by the supreme court of the judicial district within which such city is contained. A copy of such petition must be served upon the officer accused and he shall have the right to appear and to give evidence and to be heard in his defense.
N.Y. Police Certain Municipalities Law § 4