Learn more about the various vocational work programs offered to incarcerated individuals inside the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities. Vocational Work Programs The Suffolk County Correctional Facilities encourages our incarcerated individuals to participate in vocational training programs and projects off-site to learn new skills and acquire certificates to take with them when they leave our facilities. This includes work for various not for profit organizations, other Suffolk County departments, the United States Coast Guard, and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office installations. These incarcerated individuals work on a regular basis and are taught in areas of masonry work, carpentry, landscaping, and painting. They do not receive certificates but receive hands on knowledge in these areas. They have worked on numerous projects throughout Suffolk County, including: Landscaping and maintenance projects in the Riverhead Maximum Security Facility. Landscaping and maintenance projects in the Yaphank Maximum Security Facility. Painting and restoration of the Historic Davis House in Coram. Landscaping of Potters Field Cemetery and Brookside Historical Cemetery. Painting and restoration projects of the Historic Sweezey House in Yaphank. Painting and restoration projects at the Historic 2nd House in Montauk. Landscaping at Westhampton V.F.W. Scraping, painting, and landscaping at the Eatons Neck Coast Guard Station. Various restoration projects at the Life Saving House in Amagansett. 10. Car Detailing of department vehicles. 11. Cleanup and maintenance at the Montauk Lighthouse. 12. Snow removal - Riverhead Facility. 13. Construction projects at the American Legion Hall in Amagansett. 14. Restoration projects and painting at the Marine Museum in Amagansett. 15. Restoration projects at the Historic Homan House in Yaphank. 16. Painting and spackling at the Historic Bell House in Center Moriches. 17. Major cleanup project of Long Island Ave. in Brentwood (illegal dumping, littering etc.). If you would like to volunteer in one of our facilities or offer a certificate or training in a specific area to our incarcerated individuals, please visit our volunteer page here and follow the steps to volunteer your services.

Learn more about the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Police Reform and Reinvention Act created by Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. Police Reform & Reinvention Report The Sheriff's Office Reform and Reinvention Report Submitted to the Suffolk County Legislature on March 1, 2021. “The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is, and will continue to be, an agency driven to achieve excellence not by legislative mandate, but instead by its own standards and its obligation to the People of Suffolk County, New York.” - Sheriff Toulon Download the Report Send us Feeback Report Highlights On February 23, 2021, the Sheriff’s Office released its Interim Reform and Reinvention Report pursuant to New York State Executive Order 203. On March 1, the report was finalized and sent to the Suffolk County Legislature for the March 2, 2021 General Meeting. Read RESOLUTION NO -2021, ADOPTING THE SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE REFORM AND REINVENTION REPORT (SHERIFF). Deputy Presiding Officer Robert Calarco has called for additional public hearings. See the Press Release for information and dates. The Reform and Reinvention Report report requires approval from the Suffolk County Legislature and must be sent to the Governor’s Office no later than April 1, 2021. Even though the process has advanced to the next stage, the public is encouraged and welcome to continue to submit comments, questions, and suggestions to Suffolk_Sheriff@suffolkcountyny.gov . The Sheriff’s Office followed State guidance by developing its evaluation and report in phases while collaborating with community stakeholders. In September, the Office began facilitating conversations with members of its newly formed Community Advisory Board (CAB) to gain a better understanding of the public’s understanding of the role of the Sheriff’s Office. The Office held six of these sessions between September and January, which included Sheriff’s Office presentations followed by discussion. In February, the Office hosted four additional community meetings and asked for feedback on a series of proposed reforms in the seven areas of “Reforming and Reinventing Correctional Services,” “Reforming and Reinventing Police Service,” “Community Engagement,” “Recruitment, Diversification, and Retention,” “Sheriff’s Office Training,” “Officer Wellness,” and “Internal Affairs.” The Sheriff’s Office is a reform-minded agency that has engaged with community partners in the non-profit, government, and educational sectors in substantive and collaborative ways over many years. The Office has five task forces comprised of community members, including the Sheriff’s Reentry Task Force with over 80 members, the Interfaith Council, the Community Advisory Board, the Deconstructing Task Force, and a small Student Advisory Board. Participants meet regularly with the County Sheriff and his staff and have played an integral role in shaping programs and policies for many years. Sheriff Toulon viewed the Reform and Reinvention process as a valuable opportunity to reflect on the progress the Office has made in recent years, understand public concerns, and plan for the future. It was also an opportunity to educate the public about the role of the Sheriff’s Office. “With so many police agencies operating in Suffolk, the general public doesn’t fully understand how we affect their lives and the services we provide,” said Sheriff Toulon. The first section of the 78-page report describes the responsibilities of the Sheriff’s Office, its history, and how elected officeholders, Sheriff’s Office appointees, and long-time civil servants help shape policies. The report then discusses recent improvements in the 7 subject areas, noted deficiencies, goals, and recommendations, and public input. Highlights of some of the proposed reforms include: START Resource Center staff frequently confront issues with locating safe housing for homeless individuals. It is recommended that community and government stakeholders work together to create workable solutions. The Sheriff’s Office has discussed the possibility of rehabilitating county-owned property for transitional housing and will work towards this goal in 2021. incarcerated individuals with severe mental illness have more intensive needs and more frequently recidivate upon release. The Sheriff’s Office plans to focus on this issue by creating a working group in 2021 to address the continuum of support required to protect public safety and connect human services with this high-risk population. During the Public Sessions, it was recommended that the Sheriff’s Office review its policies and procedures regarding the classification of transgender individuals in custody at the Suffolk County Correctional facility. It was further recommended that the Sheriff’s Office adopt policies and procedures that are more responsive to the needs of gender-expansive communities. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will examine relevant policies and practices, New York State Commission of Corrections’ regulations, and national best practices for the purpose of crafting a policy directive on Transgender, Intersex, Gender Non-Binary, and Gender, Nonconforming People in Custody. The Sheriff’s Office will create an internal Review Board tasked with evaluating each use of force report generated. The goal of the board will be to ensure that proper procedures and guidelines are followed and to learn from each incident. If needed, the Board could establish recommendations for new methods for handling similar incidents. This platform to potentially prevent future injury to our officers and defendants/incarcerated individuals could be expanded to include other high liability incidents such as motor vehicle crashes. The Sheriff’s Office will implement a training program for Deputy Sheriffs to increase their understanding and awareness of the impact of trauma. The training will help them utilize trauma-informed practices in their interactions with children and adults. Deputy Sheriffs are charged with executing Family Court orders to remove children from their homes for reasons such as abuse and neglect. In addition to implementing trauma-informed training for Deputy Sheriffs, the Sheriff’s Office will work with community partners to develop a care package of items the officers could give to the children to ease the transition. The Sheriff’s Office will facilitate coordination between the START Resource Center and Deputy Sheriffs assigned to the courts. Deputy Sheriffs frequently encounter at-risk and vulnerable individuals. The START Resource Center could be an avenue to connect these individuals with human services. The Sheriff’s Office plans to create a section of the website in 2021 devoted to Police Division statistics on arrests and traffic stops. During the Public Sessions, a question was raised about the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to track racial and ethnic data during traffic stops. The Office is currently updating technology to ensure that race and ethnicity data will be captured. Furthermore, the Sheriff’s Office intends to conduct ongoing analysis of data captured regarding traffic stops and arrests to ensure all sworn members of the Sheriff’s Office are utilizing best practices to eliminate any potential bias and to protect public safety. During the Public Sessions, it was recommended that the Sheriff’s Office improve its data tracking relative to Deputy Sheriff’s use of language access services. In 2021, the Office will begin to post quarterly language access assistance utilization data on its website. During the Public Sessions, it was recommended that the Sheriff’s Office develop protocols and appropriate training to best handle traffic stops and other encounters with people who may have developmental disabilities, autism, or other conditions that may affect an individual’s ability to communicate effectively during police interaction. The Sheriff’s Office intends to create a program for its staff in 2021. During the Public Sessions, the ability of Deputies to use discretion when deciding to make an arrest or give a warning was discussed. Deputies also have the discretion to direct a person to mental health services rather than arrest the person. It was recommended that the Sheriff’s Office track how often Deputies use this discretion and publish the data. The Sheriff’s Office intends to continue to build its mentoring program with local school districts. It will expand its involvement with My Brother’s Keeper and seek out other mentoring opportunities in schools and community groups. The Sheriff’s Office will work with community partners, including the Community Advisory Board, to form a working group focused on developing a more diverse workforce. The Sheriff’s Office will revise its mission statement in 2021 to include the goal of developing a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities it serves. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will seek out and implement trauma-informed training for its sworn members and customer service training for all professionals who engage frequently with the public. The Sheriff’s Office will implement a specialized training program for Deputy Sheriffs to increase their understanding and awareness of the impact of trauma. The training will help them utilize trauma-informed practices in their interactions with children and adults. In corrections, special needs incarcerated individuals include any individuals in custody with mental, emotional, or developmental disabilities, disorders, or impairments. Presently, training regarding special needs incarcerated individuals is presented once in the academy. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office will be expanding upon this curriculum in 2021 so that all sworn staff will receive on-going special needs incarcerated individuals training. The Sheriff’s Office will implement Realistic De-Escalation training in 2021 for all sworn staff. This form of training exposes staff to real-life situations they may encounter on the job and gives them first-hand experience on how to handle these scenarios. This useful and informative training will assist sworn officers in managing conflicts and help them develop problem solving tools to de-escalate situations they encounter. The Academy Bureau is scheduled to have four qualified de-escalation instructors by January of 2021. De-escalation training will then be used within the Professional Communication block of annual training. The Academy Bureau is working to facilitate the creation of peer support groups within the Sheriff’s Office. These groups will work closely with Chaplains and mental health professionals to provide support to Sheriff’s Office personnel in need. The Academy Bureau is in the process of developing/ implementing a PEER team which will be a first for the Sheriff’s Office. The team’s primary focus will be supporting fellow officers in times of crisis, promoting mental health, and helping to prevent behaviors that may lead to illness, injury, or death of members. During the Public Sessions it was recommended that Academy recruits and sworn personnel receive annual training in LGBTQ cultural diversity. The Sheriff’s Office intends to adopt a relevant training program. The Sheriff’s Office also plans to review cultural competency training curricula and provide this training to all staff. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will implement officer wellness "check-ins" with supervisory staff. These check-ins will be conducted regularly to ensure that Deputy Sheriffs and Correction Officers under their commands are taking care of their overall well-being, and effectively managing and coping with stress. All staff at the Sheriff’s Office will be encouraged to be alert to "red flags" with a coworker, or immediately following a Use of Force incident, sick time abuse, or other issues. Staff will then be offered assistance and referred for counseling or treatment. The Sheriff’s Office will launch an internal education campaign to alert staff about the higher rates of depression among law enforcement and the signs and symptoms of depression. Resources will be made available on the Office intranet and on signage in employee areas. The Sheriff’s Office is already using a variety of methods associated with Early Intervention Systems (EIS) that engage supervisors in detecting and remedying problematic behavior that occurs under their command before there are issues that can lead to more serious consequences. The Sheriff’s Office will be exploring database programs used to assist in tracking performance and complaints that occur over the course of an officer’s career. Often, incidents do not occur in quick succession, and personnel and management change over the years. EIS database systems lessen the reliance on institutional knowledge about incidents and provide a means to analyze individual trends over the course of time. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office plans to utilize the Employee Mentorship Program in another arena – as a non-punitive measure for officers with minor disciplinary sanctions and/or issues. By addressing these behaviors early on, the need for more formal disciplinary measures, as well as the consequences to which these behaviors may lead, will be mitigated before they ever become a major problem for the individual and for the agency. The process to file a complaint with Internal Affairs is on the Sheriff’s Office website but during a Public Session it was recommended that the Office review the website to ensure the public understands the process to file a complaint with Internal Affairs and post a flow chart that provides information on how complaints are handled. The Sheriff’s Office intends to follow through on these suggestions. Community & Legislative Presentation Watch the Meeting Este documento en español. Preguntas? Email: Suffolk_Sheriff@suffolkcountyny.gov Public Information Session #1 Public Information Session #2 Public Information Session #3 Recommended Reading Materials on Police Reform Executive Order 203 NYS Police Reform Guidebook Briefing on the Sheriff’s Office and the Reform and Reinvention Process Pursuant to the directives of NYS Executive Order 203 and following the subsequent guidance provided by the New York State Governor’s Office, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a comprehensive review of its corrections and police divisions’ policies and procedures, community engagement, recruitment and diversity, employee training and well-being, and Internal Affairs operations. Preparation Materials for Public Session The Sheriff’s Office is comprised of a Corrections Division, a Police Division, and an Operations Division. The Corrections Division has 813 Correction Officers who staff two county correctional facilities housing minimum, medium, and maximum-security incarcerated individuals. The Police Division includes the Enforcement Bureau, Headquarters Bureau, District Court Bureau, Family Court Bureau, Criminal Investigations Bureau, a Special Operations Bureau, and the Pistol License Bureau. These bureaus provide transportation and security of incarcerated individuals outside the county jails, general law enforcement services to the public, civil actions, and support to other law enforcement agencies. The Operations Division of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office includes Employee Benefits, the Communications Bureau, Quartermaster Bureau, Grants Bureau, Accounting Bureau, Personnel Investigations Bureau, Personnel/Payroll, Fleet Management, and Research and Development. These Bureaus work together to ensure the Sheriff’s Office continues to run efficiently. The Sheriff’s Office Corrections and Police divisions are both recognized as Accredited Agencies in New York State. This designation involves a lengthy, rigorous process to meet and exceed high standards. The Office must continually sustain this level of professionalism to maintain its accreditation status. The Sheriff’s Office is at the forefront of best practices in many areas of operations and has earned national attention for its innovative work in correctional rehabilitation, school-based programming, and intervention services for victims of human trafficking. In 2018, Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. partnered with the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation to educate young people about the warning signs of a peer in distress, how to intervene, and the concepts of inclusivity. He also launched a task force called Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline to drive policy discussions and implement solutions to prevent youth from entering the justice system. The County Sheriff simultaneously expanded correctional rehabilitation programing and launched the START Resource Center on the grounds of the Yaphank Jail to provide case-management services and reduce recidivism. Working with Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare, the Sheriff recruited master’s level Social Work students to participate in an innovative Family Reunification Program which focuses on supportive services for the children of county incarcerated individuals. He has also advocated for improvements in human services, access to safe housing, and mental health treatment – as well as trauma-informed practices throughout the justice system. In June 2020, in response to growing social unrest and calls for police reform, the County Sheriff announced the formation of a Community Advisory Board and recruited participants via social media and in the local press. All ninety-four people that applied were accepted on the Board, which comprises a diverse group of residents from across Suffolk County. The Board meets monthly to view presentations, discuss topics of interest and concerns, and make recommendations. The Sheriff’s Reform and Reinvention process is focused on the following areas: Reforming and Reinventing Correctional Services Reforming and Reinventing Police Services Community Engagement Recruitment, Diversification, and Retention Sheriff’s Office Training Officer Wellness Internal Affairs The Office is seeking comments, ideas, and suggestions on some of its proposed reforms and will be meeting with community groups and the general public during four sessions in the month of February. The following information is designed to help prompt discussion about reforming policies and practices at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. While the Office is focused on specific areas, and suggested reforms are welcome. Part 1. Reforming and Reinventing Correctional Services The Sheriff’s Office places emphasis on correctional rehabilitative programming. Various in-custody programs provide gender-responsive group and individual counseling, parenting classes, and educational and vocational training for both male and female incarcerated individuals. Other programs provide essential services to elderly incarcerated individuals, veteran incarcerated individuals, human trafficking victims, and those with substance abuse issues. The reduction in county incarcerated individuals due to New York’s Bail Elimination Act led to a simultaneous decline in the number of individuals participating in the jail’s rehabilitation and reentry programs. This, in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic, prompted the administration to find creative methods of providing services to county incarcerated individuals, as well as justice-involved individuals living in our communities. This work is now coordinated through the START Resource Center by a new team of Correctional Counselors and Community Correction Officers who conduct intake assessments on all county incarcerated individuals and provide ongoing case-management during incarceration and after release. The Sheriff’s Office also recently began a pilot project with SUNY Stony Brook’s School of Social Welfare to provide services to family units and the children of those in custody. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will seek to expand the reach of the START Resource Center by developing satellite offices in other parts of Suffolk County. Planning has commenced to offer more services to individuals released from court, and to reduce barriers to employment, safe housing, mental health treatment, and other common issues. Correction Officers will also receive additional training in working with people with mental illness, de-escalation techniques, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed practices. The Sheriff’s Office will also expand services for children of those in custody. Discussion Materials: About the START Resource Center Proposed Reform: Expansion of Services for the Children of those Incarcerated https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/53721/2000256-Children-of-Incarcerated-Parents-Framework-Document.pdf Proposed Reform: Using Trauma-Informed Practices in a Correctional Setting https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/Publications/NRCJIW-UsingTraumaInformedPractices.pdf https://traumainformedoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Corrections-Trauma-Informed-Care-infographic.pdf Additional Information on Trauma in Correctional Settings Trauma-Informed and Evidence-Based Practices and Programs to Address Trauma in Correctional Settings Part 2. Reforming and Reinventing Police Services The Police Division is staffed by 240 Deputy Sheriffs that provide critical services for the courts, serve warrants and summonses, make arrests, transport incarcerated individuals, investigate crimes, and patrol roads and waterways. Recently the Sheriff’s Office began training its deputies in Fair and Impartial Policing, a form of implicit bias training. The Office’s Use of Force policy was revised to ban chokeholds and carotid holds. Body and in-car cameras were distributed to deputies and language assistance services are now available when interacting with people who have limited English proficiency. Future plans include an internal review board to evaluate each use of force incident. Customer Service training will be rolled out to professional staff in the Enforcement Bureau who field frequent phone calls from the public who are facing eviction. Trauma informed training will be implemented for deputies who are charged with executing Family Court orders to remove children from their homes. The Sheriff’s Office also intends to improve data collection relative to arrests and traffic stops and make that data available on the Sheriff’s Office website. Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: Using Trauma Informed Care Practices to Safeguard Children following Arrest or Removal from Guardians https://bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh186/files/Publications/IACP-SafeguardingChildren.pdf Proposed Reform: Training in Trauma Informed Practices https://bha.health.maryland.gov/Documents/Trauma-Informed%20Policing%20-%20Betsy%20Wexler.pdf https://www.samhsa.gov/gains-center/trauma-training-criminal-justice-professionals Proposed Reform: Exploring Co-Responder Models for Individuals in Behavioral Crisis and with Developmental Disabilities RESPONDING TO INDIVIDUALS IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CRISIS VIA CO-RESPONDER MODELS The Police-Mental Health Collaboration Toolkit https://bja.ojp.gov/program/pmhc Part 3. Community Engagement The Sheriff’s Office regularly participates in formal and informal community gatherings and events. The Office hosts an annual Open House and Family Day and participates in National Night Out to create more opportunities for positive public interactions. In the last few years, the Sheriff’s Office has become actively engaged in mentoring initiatives though My Brother’s Keeper. In 2021, the Office will conduct another mentoring pilot project with the Central Islip School District. Community engagement is also facilitated through the Office’s many task forces and boards, including the Interfaith Council, the Reentry Task Force, the Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline Task Force, the Student Advisory Board, and the Community Advisory Board. Through these initiatives, the Sheriff’s Office regularly engages with hundreds of individuals, non-profit groups, and educators. Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: The Sheriff’s Office is proposing an expansion of its mentoring initiatives. http://www.nysed.gov/mbk https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/cops-mentoring-kids-an-investment-in-crime-reduction Additional: The Sheriff’s Office intends to expand its Deconstructing the Prison Pipeline Initiative https://315a35fb-4cd2-4c10-ad2f-caceddce343b.usrfiles.com/ugd/315a35_22d112c0e8944c359455cf2539d4a95f.pdf Part 4. Recruitment and Diversification The underrepresentation of Black and Hispanic employees at the Sheriff’s Office is a longstanding issue that is also a challenge throughout Suffolk County government. Suffolk County recently appointed its first ever Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, a new role created by the County Executive to promote diversity and inclusion in the Suffolk County workforce. Nearly all Sheriff’s Office employees are civil servants, and therefore are not exempt from civil service hiring practices, such as testing and established lists based on scoring. The Sheriff’s Office Director of Personnel has been tasked with collaborating with the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer to improve hiring and recruitment practices and increase diversity in its sworn and professional ranks. Some recent initiatives undertaken by the Sheriff’s Office to aid in diversification include targeted recruitment efforts in local communities, coordinated outreach efforts with non-profits and churches, and social media campaigns. These initiatives had positive results and will continue as new civil service tests are scheduled. Future plans include teaming up with members of the Community Advisory Board to help with recruitment, targeted marketing campaigns, social media outreach, and identifying and reducing barriers to attracting more ethnically and racially diverse candidates. In 2021, the Sheriff’s Office plans to revise its formal Mission Statement to include “developing a more diverse workforce.” Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: The Sheriff’s Office will set goals to diversity its sworn and professional workforce. https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/file/900761/download https://www.policechiefmagazine.org/creating-a-multicultural-law-enforcement-agency/ Part 5. Training Previous to the current administration, in-service training amounted to less than one day per year. Sheriff Toulon increased in-service training to three days per year for all sworn staff, created the Academy’s first training course catalogue, and implemented mandatory training for all new supervisors. The recent additions to the in-service training program include mental health first aid training, fair and impartial policing, and crisis intervention training. These curricula include realistic and challenging training scenarios to strengthen learning objectives. A new mentoring program supports new employees while learning on-the-job and helps to reinforce the ethical foundation of the professional culture at the Sheriff’s Office. The Office also plans to implement trauma-informed training for its sworn members and customer service training for all professionals who engage frequently with the public. (See corrections and police sections for trainings). Part 6. Officer Wellness Decision making and judgment can be affected by an officer’s mental state. Proper mental, physical, and emotional well-being are essential for an officer to be effective in the community. Recently, the Sheriff’s Office began an employee wellness program to encourage employees to prioritize mental and physical fitness. The Sheriff’s Office Chaplaincy Program provides chaplains from various religious denominations to officers in need. In addition, employee unions have helped connect law enforcement mental health providers with officers in need of psychological and emotional support. Starting in 2021, the Sheriff’s Office will begin officer wellness check-ins utilizing supervisory staff. These check-ins will alert supervisors to red flags indicative of a larger problem. New training at the Academy will focus on officer mental wellness education. Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: Improve Overall Wellness for Sheriff’s Office Employees https://cops.usdoj.gov/RIC/Publications/cops-w0862-pub.pdf Part 7. Transparency and Accountability – Internal Affairs Sheriff Toulon and the Executive Staff work to hold all staff accountable for their conduct and to properly and investigate each and every allegation of misconduct. A progressive disciplinary system for all founded violations of agency policies and procedures is in place. The Sheriff’s Office investigates all complaints, whether anonymous or otherwise. Recently Sheriff Toulon established the Quality Assurance and Integrity Unit to evaluate complaint cases for the purpose of decreasing opportunities for re-offense. The Sheriff’s Office already uses various Early Intervention Systems that engage supervisors in detecting and remedying problematic behavior. A database program is being explored to assist in tracking performance and complaints over an officer’s entire career. The Employee Mentorship Program will also be utilized as a non-punitive measure for officers with minor disciplinary issues, avoiding the need for a formal disciplinary process. Discussion Materials: Proposed Reform: Review Employee Intervention Systems; both behavioral interventions and software systems http://www.datasciencepublicpolicy.org/projects/public-safety/eis-overview/ https://www.policefoundation.org/publication/best-practices-in-early-intervention-system-implementation-and-use-in-law-enforcement-agencies/ Part 8. Other Recommendations and Open Discussion

The mission of SHP & the Sheriff's Office collaboration is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence. Sandy Hook Promise In December of 2017, then Sheriff-Elect Errol Toulon, Jr. attended a gala in New York City for the Sandy Hook Promise Organization. There he met with Mark Barden, one of the founders of Sandy Hook Promise and the father of Daniel, one of the young children killed in Sandy Hook Elementary School. Sheriff Toulon was so moved by this organization, that out of something tragic, built a school safety program that empowers students, teachers, and the community to become empowered bystanders. Upon taking office in January 2018, his first community initiative was to partner with Sandy Hook Promise to bring their programming to all Suffolk County schools. Sheriff Toulon was an invited speaker at the 2019 Sandy Hook Promise Gala in Washington, DC, Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. talks about what inspired him to join the movement to honor the victims and families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting by preventing more tragedy. Under Sheriff Toulon's leadership, school safety and protecting youth from violence and self-harm is a priority of his work in public office. By partnering with Sandy Hook Promise-- and becoming Promise Leaders, Suffolk's Correction Officers & Deputy Sheriffs are teaching students everywhere to know the signs of someone in distress and to say something to a trusted adult. Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs and Correction Officers are specially trained to teach the Sandy Hook Promise program in schools and for community groups. Learn more about the two programs: Start with Hello Start With Hello teaches students to be more socially inclusive and connected to each other. With activities and curricula available for all ages, students are empowered to end social isolation in three easy steps. Step 1: See someone alone. Learn how to recognize the signs of loneliness and social isolation. Step 2: Reach Out And Help. Find out what you can do to help others feel included. Step 3: Start With Hello. Discover how to break the ice and strike up a conversation. Say Something The goal of the Say Something Program is to teach students how to look for warning signs, signals, and threats, especially in social media, of an individual who may be a threat to themselves or others and to say something to a trusted adult to get help. We want to teach students to understand and recognize warning signs and threats, how to act immediately, take it seriously, understand strategies to take action, and overcome potential barriers to being an “upstander” rather than a “bystander." Ultimately, the student is taught to seek out a trusted adult. Request a Program

Welcome to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Drone Registration Page All drone operators must comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines to ensure public safety and responsible drone use. Use the resources below to register your drone and stay up to date with FAA requirements. Why Do I Need to Register My Drone? According to FAA regulations, any unmanned aircraft weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) must be registered before operating outdoors. This helps ensure that drone operators follow airspace rules and maintain safety in our communities. Failure to register your drone can result in civil and criminal penalties, including fines up to $250,000. Who Needs to Register? You must register your drone if: You are flying for recreational purposes and your drone weighs more than 0.55 pounds. You are using your drone for commercial purposes under Part 107 rules. You are a public safety agency using drones in your operations. For more details, visit the FAA’s Drone Registration FAQs: https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started/register_drone How to Register Your Drone Follow these simple steps to register your drone with the FAA: Visit the FAA’s DroneZone website: https://faadronezone.faa.gov/ Create an account or log in to your existing account. Register your drone and pay the $5 registration fee. Label your drone with your registration number. Important: Registration is valid for three years, and you must carry proof of registration when operating your drone. FAA Rules for Recreational Flyers If you are flying for fun, make sure you know the rules for recreational flyers: https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_flyers

Learn more about the Civil Enforcement Section of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. Civil Enforcement Bureau Property Execution Motor Vehicle Levy Income Execution | Wage Garnishment Suffolk County Mileage Fees & Chart The Role of the Enforcement Bureau The Civil Enforcement Bureau of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is the enforcement arm of the civil courts. Its authority lies in the New York State Constitution, the Civil Practice Law, and Rules, and the Real Property Law of the State of New York. The civil actions that are processed by this section include property executions (for real and personal property), income executions, warrants to remove, any service of process, warrants of arrest, orders of seizure, orders of attachment, service of D.W.I. forfeiture summonses for the County Attorney, closure orders for Health Services and all other orders issued from any civil court. In addition to civil enforcement, the Deputy Sheriffs assigned to this section also enforce Penal Law, Criminal Procedure Law, and Vehicle Traffic Law. The Civil Enforcement Bureau's law enforcement role encompasses all of the ten townships that comprise Suffolk County. The Civil Enforcement Bureau is located at: 360 Yaphank Avenue Yaphank, NY 11980 Looking for Civil Bureau assistance? Click the links below to get more information. General Information: (631) 852-5600 Evictions: (631) 852-5621 Property Executions: (631) 852-5627 Income Execution | Wage Garnishment: (631) 852-5623 Real Property Seizures: (631) 852-5613 or (631) 852-5616 Bankruptcy: (631) 852-5613 or (631) 852-5616 Orders to Show Cause: (631) 852-5613 or (631) 852-5616 Summonses & Warrants: (631) 852-5617 Property Execution A Property Execution is an instrument used by the sheriff to seize assets other than earnings, salary or wages. The type of property targeted will determine the type of Property Execution to be used. How to file a Property Execution: You must obtain a Transcript of the Judgment from the County Clerk's Office. Once your transcript of judgment is filed with the County Clerk, you may request a property execution (Form #199) for the Sheriff's Office to attempt collection of your judgment. T he County Clerk’s fee is $5.00 to issue the Form 199. County Clerks Office 300 Center Drive Riverhead, NY 11901 (631) 852-2000 Keep a copy for your records and make another to file with the Sheriff's Office. When Filing with the Sheriff's Office: Make 7 copies (front and back) of the original Form 199. One copy may be retained for your personal records and 6 copies must be sent to the Sheriff's Office, along with the original document. Forward to the Sheriff: The original Form 199 Six copies (front and back) of Form 199 One copy of the Transcript of Judgment A note with your name and a daytime contact phone number. A certified check, money order or attorney's check made payable to the Sheriff of Suffolk County for the statutory fee of $20.00, plus the mileage fee. If the defendant is no longer at the address shown on the Judgment, you must provide the Sheriff's Office with a current address. Without a correct address, the Sheriff will be unable to collect on the judgment. Mail to: Suffolk Sheriff's Office Civil Bureau 360 Yaphank Avenue -- Suite 1A Yaphank, NY 11980 NOTE: If filing in person, you may make a cash payment. Please see the links below for the mileage chart for fee information as well as to obtain a Sale of Real Property Form. Additional information is available from the County Clerk's Office linked here. Need directions to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Civil Enforcement Bureau? Click here. Suffolk County Mileage Fees & chart (Top of Page) Sale of Real Property Form Motor Vehicle Levy A change in law went into effect on January 21, 2011 (see CPLR 5205). The Sheriff must now conduct his levies and sales on motor vehicles to conform to this new law. The new law gives a debtor a $5500.00 exemption above liens and encumbrances on his/her owned vehicle. The Sheriff will have to collect the debtor’s exemption, the lien amount on the vehicle (if there is one) and the expenses paid to levy the vehicle at the time of the Sheriff’s sale. If at the time of sale the bidding does not bring $5500.00 plus the lien amount, the sale is stopped and the vehicle will be returned to the debtor. The plaintiff can bid on the vehicle. The first $5500.00 plus the lien amount must be paid in cash. Any bids you make above this amount can be a credit bid which will reduce the amount of the judgment. Sheriff’s poundage will be paid in advance. Poundage is 5% of the vehicle value, or the execution amount (whichever is less).* This cost may or may not be reimbursed (or adjusted) from the proceeds of the sale. CAUTION: The Sheriff’s seizure and sale of a vehicle may not result in the satisfaction of your judgment. You may also lose the additional levy expenses. The sale may be delayed or stopped by a bankruptcy filing or other legal proceeding. The sale value of the vehicle is affected by mechanical damage, high mileage, age, and the condition of the vehicle inside and out. In order for the Sheriff to levy a debtor’s vehicle for the satisfaction of a money judgment you will have to provide the following information and documentation: Go to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and fill out an MV15 form (download form here. ) You will receive an MV904N from DMV which will show title to the vehicle (who owns it) and if there is a lien on the vehicle. If there is a lienholder listed, we require proof from the lienholder of the balance due on the lien. You will have to contact the lienholder or hire an attorney who can obtain this information. Proof of the value of the vehicle. The proof is an appraisal from a licensed car dealer or an official book value. Forward a certified check or money order, payable to the Sheriff of Suffolk County, in the amount of $1000.00 in advance for expenses related to seizure, towing and storage. We may require additional expenses depending on the size of the vehicle, special towing, or special storage requirements. If the vehicle is not located or seized the advanced expense money will be refunded. *Sheriff’s poundage to be paid per above. For directions to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Civil Enforcement Bureau, click here. DMV Locations & Appointment Scheduling Income Execution | Wage Garnishment An income execution is a type of levy that may be issued against your wages if you fail to resolve your tax debt. It is a legal order that requires you or your employer to pay a portion of your gross wages for taxes you owe from your paycheck/salary. Issued by the NYS Courts, New York State will ask you to voluntarily pay up to 10% of your gross wages each time you're paid. If you don’t make voluntary payments, they will have your employer automatically deduct up to 10% of your gross wages from your paycheck and send it to us. The income execution remains in effect until the outstanding tax liability is satisfied. If you fail to resolve your tax debt, New York State may proceed with collection action by issuing an income execution. They may file a tax warrant before or after we issue the income execution. First, they will send the income execution to the address on file for you (click here to change your address & update your personal information if needed.) Generally, to comply with the income execution, you must: You are required to make the first payment within 20 days of receiving the notice. By law, wage deductions can't exceed ten percent: (10%) of gross income, or twenty five percent (25%) of disposable earnings. You must make payments each time you get paid, whether that's weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc. If you don't pay the required amount, your employer must deduct the money from your wages. How to remove an income execution: Pay the bill in full. For more information on income execution and wage garnishments, please visit the New York State Website. For driving directions to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Civil Enforcement Bureau, click here. New York State Website

The Operations Division of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office ​oversees various commands and is overseen by the Chief of Staff. OPERATIONS DIVISION The Operations Division of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office includes Employee Benefits, the Communications Bureau, the Quartermaster, the Grants Bureau, Accounting, Personnel Investigations, Personnel/Payroll, Fleet Management, and Research & Development. The Operations Division is overseen by the Chief of Staff. Employee Benefits Accounting Department Communications Bureau Personnel Investigations Grants Bureau Payroll Department Research / Development Fleet Management

The Sheriff's Pet Network provides pet owners with a printed pet ID card and adds them to a database to help quickly locate missing animals. Sheriff's Pet Network Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. is proud to announce Suffolk County’s first ever Lost Pet Network which will provide participating owners with a printed pet identification card while adding the pets to a database to help quickly locate missing animals. When a pet is lost, Suffolk County residents utilize many websites, social media pages and traditional methods but lack one central method for spreading the news and involving the proper stakeholders. The American Humane Society estimates that each year, approximately 10 million pets are lost in the United States, and millions of those end up in the nation's animal shelters. Tragically, only 15 percent of dogs and 2 percent of cats in shelters without microchips are reunited with their owners. Owners can enroll in this program to get a free identification card and become a part of the Lost Pet Network which will utilize Deputy Sheriffs, local municipalities and a designated website in the case of a dog, cat, or other eligible animal going missing. To enroll: Click here to download a copy of the Sheriff's Pet Network Application Form Fill it out and email it along with a clear, up-to-date photo of your pet to SheriffPetNetwork@suffolkcountyny.gov

The mission of the Annual Executive Leadership Conference is to develop, equip and empower the next generation of leaders. MISSION TO DEVELOP, EQUIP & EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION OF EXECUTIVE LEADERS. REGISTER NOW! The 2024 Executive Leadership Conference will be held on Tuesday, October 8th at the Boulton Center for the Performing Arts, Long Island. Would you like to attend our upcoming Executive Leadership Conference? Fill out the form below to register: I would like to attend a discounted menu lunch at Napper Tandy's. Submit Thank you for your interest in joining us at the 2024 Executive Leadership Conference. You will receive an email with details on the Conference closer to the date. Please note: some county or government agencies may block email correspondence from outside agencies. To ensure you receive correspondence, please add william.blomberg@suffolkcountyny.gov to your email address list. For more information follow us on Instagram by clicking on the icon below.

Learn more about the various services the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office offers. FAMILY AND RE-ENTRY RESOURCES This page provides essential resources for individuals re-entering the community after incarceration, as well as their families. Whether you're preparing for re-entry or have already transitioned, you’ll find valuable information on programs, support services, and opportunities to aid in building a stable, fulfilling future. For help or questions, please contact: PreventionandReentry@SuffolkCountyNY.gov . EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS AND CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES MORE HOUSING SUPPORT & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MORE PARENTING & CHILDCARE SUPPORT MORE EMPLOYMENT & RE-ENTRY SUPPORT MORE EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIPS MORE MENTAL HEALTH, WELLNESS & SUBSTANCE USE SUPPORT MORE TRANSPORTATION & COMMUNICATION ASSISTANCE MORE LEGAL AID & ADVOCACY MORE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND SEX TRAFFICKING RESOURCES MORE FAITH-BASED REENTRY RESOURCES MORE UPCOMING EVENTS MORE Printable Resources

Learn more about the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Policing Division Statistics. Police Division Statistics New Hire Demographics Domestic Violence Report Arrest Data More Information More Information More Information Deputy Sheriff and Correction Officer New Hire Demographics Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Domestic Violence Bureau Statistics Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Arrest Data Use of Force Policy More Information Download PDF Uniform Crime Report More Information External Link

Learn more about the hiring process all officers go through to join the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office as a Deputy Sheriff or Correction Officer. HIRING PROCESS STEP 01 Register to take the exam through the Suffolk County Department of Civil Service STEP 02 Attend one of our orientation seminars to learn more about career opportunities. STEP 03 Pass the Physical Agility Exam (otherwise known as the Coopers Standard Test). VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS STEP 04 Pass a medical evaluation. STEP 05 Pass a background investigation and interview. STEP 06 Pass a written psychological examination and interview. STEP 07 Receive an offer letter of employment and start your academy training. ACADEMY TRAINING

Learn more about how to obtain an Order of Protection or TERPO/ERPO and the role of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. Orders of Protection Contact the Domestic Violence Bureau: 631-853-7590 Orders of protection are issued by a judge to protect you from another person who is abusing, harassing, threatening, and/or intimidating you, or has committed a crime against you. Orders of protection are commonly issued in cases involving domestic violence, but may also be issued under other circumstances. Types of Orders of Protection Family Court Order of Protection: A Family Court Order of Protection is issued as part of a civil proceeding to stop violence that is occurring within the family or within an intimate relationship. You may begin the process of obtaining a Family Court order of protection by filling out the Family Offense Petition . In order to obtain an order of protection in Family Court, your relationship to the other person involved must fall in at least one of the following categories: Current or former spouse. Someone with whom you have a child in common. A family member to whom you are related by blood or marriage. Someone with whom you have, or have had, an 'intimate relationship.' (An intimate relationship does not necessarily mean a sexual relationship. Family Court will consider several factors such as, but not limited to: "how often you see each other or how long you have known each other.") Criminal Court Order of Protection: An Assistant District Attorney may request a criminal court order of protection on your behalf. You do not need to have an intimate or personal relationship with the person charged with the offense. The judge decides whether to issue an order of protection, as well as the terms and conditions. Supreme Court Order of Protection: A Supreme Court order of protection can be issued as part of ongoing divorce or criminal proceeding. If you are involved in an ongoing divorce case and wish to request an order of protection, you must make a written request by Motion or Order to Show Cause, or an oral request at a court appearance. If an attorney is representing you in the case, the attorney can make the written or oral request on your behalf. The judge decides whether to issue an order of protection, as well as the terms and conditions. Orders of protection may be temporary or final: Temporary Order of Protection: Issued the same day that a complainant files for an order of protection and lasts only until the next court date, at which point it may be extended. Final Order of Protection: A final order of protection is issued when the case results in a conviction (whether by plea or after a trial) in criminal court or in family court after a judge finds that a family offense was committed. Orders of protection may be full or limited: Full Order of Protection: A full order of protection means that the subject of the order of protection must stay completely away from you, your home, job and school, and must not abuse, harass, or threaten you. Limited Order of Protection: A limited order of protection allows the subject of the order of protection to maintain contact with you. However, the subject cannot abuse, harass, or threaten you. Serving Family or Supreme Court Orders of Protection For legal reasons, you may not serve your own order of protection. Orders of protection will be served in court by the judge if the defendant/respondent is present. The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office may serve your Order of Protection. This service is free of charge. Once the Sherriff's Office has served the respondent, they will provide you with a signed statement that says the service has been completed. If the Sheriff's office is unable to deliver the order of protection after several attempts, they must provide you with a signed statement that includes the dates and times of each attempt. An order of protection does not guarantee your safety. It is important that you have a safety plan should the person violate the order of protection. Violating an Order of Protection It is a crime to violate a temporary or final order of protection. If an individual violates the order of protection, you should report it to the police. In an emergency call 911 and the individual will be arrested. In a non-emergency, you may file a violation of the order of protection by going to a police precinct. If you have a Family Court order of protection, you may go to Family Court and file the violation, you may report the violation to the police or choose to do both. If you file a violation of the order of protection only in Family Court, the subject who violated the order might not be arrested. Learn more about an order of protection . Extreme Risk Protective Order Please be advised that effective August 24, 2019 the NYS Supreme Courts may begin issuing an Extreme Risk Protective Order when a person may be dangerous to themselves or others. Please see the New York Courts website regarding how an order may be obtained. An Extreme Risk Protective Order (ERPO) is a court order issued when a person may be dangerous to themselves or others. An ERPO prohibits a person from purchasing or possessing guns and requires the person to surrender any guns they already own or possess. An ERPO can also direct the police to search a person, premises or a vehicle for guns and remove them. An ERPO case may be started by a district attorney, a police officer, a school official, or a member of the person’s family or household. It is a civil case. ERPO cases have no criminal charges or penalties. The petitioner is the person filing the ERPO application with the court. The respondent is the person you are asking the Court to issue an ERPO against. The petitioner can be a district attorney, a police officer, a school official, or a member of the respondent’s family or household. Crime Victims Information Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon is pleased to announce that the Sheriff's Office participates in the Order of Protection Notification System (OPNS) . The program is available to anyone who registers to receive alerts regarding Family Court-issued orders of protection in Suffolk County -- and provides a text, email, phone or fax notification to alert victims when Deputy Sheriffs serve a Family Court Order of Protection to a perpetrator on their behalf. Victims can also use the VINE resource to look up incarcerated individuals and receive alerts regarding their release. Register for alerts by visiting the NYS Sheriffs Institute Victims Services page linked below. Please have your docket number and order of protection number available at the time of registration. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, the following organizations in Suffolk County can offer support and guidance. However, please call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger. To learn more about making an application for a court order of protection, please visit the Unified Court System website. If you need assistance, counseling or advice, call one of the organizations listed below: Crime Victims Center (631) 689-2672 The Retreat (631) 329-2200 L.I. Against Domestic Violence (631) 666-8833 Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk (Known as VIBS) (631) 360-3606 NYS Courts Steps to Apply for an ERPO