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  • Use of Force Policy | Suffolk County Sheriffs Office

    Learn more about the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Use of Force Policy. Use of Force Policy Law enforcement officers around the country and in New York State are authorized to use reasonable and legitimate force in specific circumstances. Federal constitution and state statutory standards dictate when and how much force can be used. The attached directive is founded in these standards but is not intended to be an exhaustive recitation of state and/or federal legal framework governing use of force. The attached policy is not intended to endorse or prohibit any particular tactic, technique, or method of employing force. To read the directive in its entirety, please click the link below. If you have any questions or concerns, please email us , and someone from our office will reply to you shortly. Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Use of Force Policy

  • Q&A With Women | Sheriff's Office

    Q&A WITH THE WOMEN OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE First Name Last Name Email Phone Town Suffolk Credit Union Arena 1001 Crooked Hill Road Brentwood, NY 11717 Send Tuesday, August 27th 6:00-7:00pm Thanks for registering! We will see you on the 27th.

  • Language Line | Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

    Learn more about the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Language Line directives and get access to certain forms and downloads in your native language. Language Line English Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Spanish Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Chinese Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Portuguese Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Haitian Creole Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Italian Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions Polish Visitors Guide SCSO Language Line Directive Project Lifesaver Adult Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Child Enrollment Application Project Lifesaver Application Instructions

  • Human Trafficking | Suffolk County Sheriffs Office

    Learn more about the Human Trafficking Unit inside the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities. Sheriff's Anti-Trafficking Initiative The Sheriff’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative was the first of its kind in the country operating from inside a correctional facility. S.A.T.I. has been pioneering the campaign against human trafficking from the correctional standpoint by establishing a comprehensive and effective response to the crime. The unit works in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies by developing and forwarding intelligence gleaned from the correctional facility setting. In addition, they refer victims and work closely with advocacy groups in efforts to assist the victims on their road to recovery. The principal objectives are to ensure that all victims of human trafficking who pass through our facility are identified, have access to the services they need to recover, and are supported throughout their long-term journey as survivors. What is Human Trafficking Human trafficking, in general terms, is holding someone in compelled service for labor or commercial sex acts, using whatever means necessary whether physical or psychological (force, fraud, or coercion). Causing someone under the age of 18 to engage in a commercial sex act, regardless of using force, fraud, or coercion is human trafficking under U.S. law. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality. Traffickers might use violence, manipulation, or false promises of well-paying jobs or romantic relationships to lure victims into trafficking situations. Human trafficking can happen to anyone but some people are more vulnerable than others. Significant risk factors include recent migration or relocation, substance use, mental health concerns, involvement with the children welfare system and being a runaway or homeless youth. Often, traffickers identify and leverage their victims’ vulnerabilities in order to create dependency. Youth and teens can be more susceptible to becoming a victim of human trafficking, especially those who have recently immigrated, those who are displaced from their families or have significant issues in the home, and those who have a history of substance use. Knowing not only the signs of human trafficking but some of the grooming techniques and ways to protect your children are vital to keeping our youth safe. To report suspicious non-emergency human trafficking activity, contact Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 220-TIPS. For urgent or life threatening situations, or if you suspect someone is in immediate danger, call 911. Here are some signs that someone could potentially b e a trafficking victim: Is the person disoriented or confused, showing signs of mental or physical abuse? Does the person have bruises in various stages of healing? Is the person fearful, timid, or submissive? Is the person often in the company of someone who seems to be in control of where they go or whom they talk to? Does the person appear to have a much older boyfriend or "daddy" that seems to be a strange or uncomfortable relationship? Does the person seem to be being watched or controlled? Does the person appear to be coached on what to say? Does the person lack personal possessions or appear to not have a stable living situation? Does the person seem to be abused or deprived of food, water, sleep, medical care, or other life necessities? Can the person freely contact friends or family and have the means to do so? Is the person allowed to socialize alone? Is the person permitted to freely attend religious services? Please note: It is unsafe to attempt to rescue a trafficking victim. You have no way of knowing how the trafficker may react or retaliate against you or the victim. If you believe you have identified someone who has escaped from or is currently being trafficked, please contact law enforcement immediately. There are several other indicators not listed that could imply someone is a victim of human trafficking, as well as being "groomed" to become a victim. Below are additional resources you can print or look through for more information. Note:The information above was collected from the Suffolk Sheriff's Anti-Trafficking Unit, the National Human Trafficking Hotline, the Polaris Project, and the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign. If you have a tip or think you cause to believe someone may be a trafficking victim, call the Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888 immediately. Download a Free Resource Click on any of the images below to download a FREE informational resource. Use these guides to start the conversation with your children or loved ones about human trafficking, share them on social media or hang them in your school or business to keep the conversation going. Contact Us The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office has designated teams of officers in our Human Trafficking Unit tracking activity within our Correctional Facilities as well as in the community. If you would like additional information or to speak with one of our officers, please fill out the request form below and someone will contact you. Thank you for contacting us. Someone will reach out to you shortly. Submit

  • Police Reform and Reinvention | Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

    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. Inmates 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/inmates 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 inmates include any individuals in custody with mental, emotional, or developmental disabilities, disorders, or impairments. Presently, training regarding special needs inmates 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 inmate 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 inmates. 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 inmates 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 inmates. 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 inmates. Other programs provide essential services to elderly inmates, veteran inmates, human trafficking victims, and those with substance abuse issues. The reduction in county inmates 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 inmates, 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 inmates 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 inmates, 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

  • History | Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

    Learn more about the history of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office dating back to 1683. Suffolk County Sheriff's Office History The origin of the Sheriff is traceable to the Office of the Sheriff and Constable of early English history. On Long Island, from 1664 to 1683, ridings were used to establish boundaries within the Shire. The East riding comprised the territory now occupied by Suffolk County. The West riding consisted of Kings County and Newtown (Queens). The remainder of Long Island belonged to the North riding. Collectively, the three ridings were called Yorkshire. The Governor appointed a “High Sheriff” for Yorkshire with a Deputy from each riding. In 1683, the ridings were abolished and the East riding became Suffolk County. The High Sheriff was no longer necessary being that each County would now have its own Sheriff. Suffolk County’s first Sheriff was Josiah Hobart in 1683. After the American Revolution, the practice of the Governor appointing a Sheriff continued and was incorporated into the first Constitution adopted in New York in 1777. At the Constitutional Convention in 1821, the appointed Office of the Sheriff was made elective. That year, Abraham Gardiner became Suffolk County’s first elected Sheriff. Today, the Sheriff of Suffolk County is elected to the term of four years. On January 1, 2018, Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. became the 67th Sheriff of Suffolk County and the County`s first African American Sheriff in Suffolk County history. Please scroll through a pictorial history of the the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. History of the Suffolk County Jail Facilities The first Suffolk County Jail was erected in 1727 on the north side of Main Street in Riverhead at the site of former Perkins store. A bronze plaque placed there by the Suffolk County Historical Society marks the site. This jail was severely damaged during the Revolutionary War and had to be rebuilt in 1784. Continuous enlargements and improvements were made throughout the next 75 years until a new site on Griffing Avenue was purchased and a court house and jail built of brick and stone was erected in 1855. This jail was a separate two story octagonal stone building located at the rear of the court house. The cells were also arranged in an octagon, each cell going back almost to a point with the floor resembling the shape of a piece of pie. It was enlarged in 1881, adding a third floor to this unusually shaped building. In 1911, a new jail was built after the state deemed the octagon jail "unsanitary, overcrowded, and a breeding place for immorality - a relic of the dark ages, a disgrace and a stigma upon the county." The massive stone blocks used in the old octagon jail can be found around the flag pole at the current Riverhead Correctional Facility, comprising a monument to fallen officers and deputies. The 1911 jail was designed to hold 136 inmates but quickly grew to over 200 inmates with overflow housed in the Nassau County Jail at $4.50 per inmate per day. Once again, age and overcrowding turned the 1911 building into a substandard jail falling short of the minimum standards set by the State Corrections Department. In 1961, the Yaphank Penal Farm Building (Honor Farm) was opened. The main reason for erecting this facility was to relieve the overcrowding at the County Jail in Riverhead. However, by locating this building in close proximity to the County Farm, the county saved the time and expense of transporting the inmate farm workers to and from the Riverhead Jail on a daily basis. Work on the Suffolk County Farm was performed almost exclusively by the inmates. This provided the men with a healthy environment and a sense of self-respect. Moreover, the farm provided about 80% of all food consumed at the Suffolk County Jail, the Children's Shelter, the County Infirmary, and the Honor Farm Annex itself. The 1965 inspection of the Suffolk County Jail, conducted by the State Commission of Correction, pointed out the need for construction of a new jail with enlarged and modern facilities. Groundbreaking for the new jail took place on March 15, 1966. Three years later, on January 24, 1969, the state certified the cells for occupancy. However, due to lack of adequate staff, the new jail was not operational until August 28, 1969, when the 190 inmates from the 1911 jail were transferred to the new modern jail. In an effort to boost the morale of the department, in 1977 Sheriff Finnerty requested that the name of the Suffolk County Jail be changed. Therefore, by an act of the Suffolk County Legislature, the jail was renamed the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, while the Honor Farm was renamed the Suffolk County Minimum Security Correctional Facility. In 1980, due to ongoing overcrowding, a 200 bed addition was approved for the Minimum Security Facility in Yaphank. Overcrowding continued, however, despite this addition, and a 300 additional cells were added to the Riverhead Correctional facility creating a Medium Security addition. In 2013, a major addition was added to the Correctional Facility in Yaphank including six pods consisting of 60 cells each. A modern medical unit, medical housing unit, visiting area, and booking and processing unit were also added. This changed the facility from the Suffolk County Minimum Security Correctional Facility to the Yaphank Correctional Facility. Both the Yaphank and the Riverhead Correctional Facilities could now house inmates of all three security classifications. Suffolk County Sheriffs Throughout History 1. Josiah Hobart 1683-1701 2. John Mulford 1701-1702 3. Hugh Gray 1702-1710 4. John Brush 1710-1718 5. Daniel Youngs 1718-1723 6. Samuel Dayton 1723-1728 7. William Sell 1728-1730 8. Joseph Smith 1730-1731 9. David Corrie 1731-1734 10. Jacob Conklin 1734-1740 11. Thomas Higbe 1740-1774 12. James Muirson 1774-1785 13. Thomas Wickes 1785-1787 1791-1799 14. Silas Halsey 1787-1791 15. Phineas Carll 1799-1803 16. Josiah Reeve 1803-1807 1808-1810 1811-1812 1813-1814 1815-1819 17. Phineas Smith 1807-1808 18. Benjamin Brewster 1810-1811 1812-1813 19. Nathaniel Conklin 1814-1815 20. Samuel Carll 1819-1821 21. Abraham Gardiner 1821-1826 1829-1832 22. Samuel Smith 1826-1829 23. Richard Smith 1832-1835 24. Silas Horton 1835-1838 25. Samuel Miller 1838-1841 26. David Brush 1841-1844 27. Henry Penny 1844-1847 28. David Rose 1847-1850 29. John Clark 1850-1855 30. Samuel Phillips 1855-1856 31. George Carman 1856-1859 32. Stephen Wilson 1859-1862 33. Daniel Osborn 1862-1868 34. George Smith 1868-1871 35. J. Henry Perkins 1871-1874 36. Egbert Lewis 1874-1877 37. George Cooper 1877-1878 38. Robert Petty 1878-1883 1888-1891 39. Selah Brewster 1883-1886 40. Henry Halsey 1886-1888 41. A.M. Darling 1891-1897 42. Benjamin Wood 1897-1900 43. J. Sheridan Wells 1900-1903 44. Henry Preston 1903-1906 45. John Wells 1906-1909 46. Charles Platt 1909-1912 47. Melville Brush 1912-1913 48. D. Henry Brown 1913-1914 49. Charles O'Dell 1914-1917 50. Amza Biggs 1917-1920 1923-1926 51. John Kelly 1920-1923 52. Burton Howe 1926-1929 53. Ellis Taylor 1929-1932 54. Joseph Warta 1932-1935 55. William McCollom 1935-1938 1942-1957 56. Jacob Dreyer 1938-1941 57. John Levy 1941-1942 58. Charles Dominy 1957-1962 59. Frank Gross 1962-1970 60. Philip Corso 1970-1976 61. Donald Dilworth 1976-1977 62. John Finnerty 1977-1986 63. Eugene Dooley 1986-1990 63. Patrick Mahoney 1990-2002 65. Alfred C. Tisch 2002-2006 66. Vincent F. DeMarco 2006-2018 67. Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. 2018- Current

  • Community Relations | Suffolk County Sheriffs Office

    The Community Relations Unit is responsible for implementing community outreach and school-based programs, organizing events, and promoting the Sheriff’s mission. Community Relations Unit The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Community Relations Unit is one of the most vital units throughout the office. Since taking office, Sheriff Toulon has not only expanded the Community Relations Unit but also doubled the amount of community engagement we are involved in. Throughout the year, CRU visits each Suffolk County School District as well as multiple clubs and various organizations. Since day one, Sheriff Toulon’s motto has been, “I want to get to the kids before they get to me” and the Community Relations Unit does just that. Its main goal is to bridge the gap between Law Enforcement and the members of the Community. CRU is responsible for implementing community outreach and school-based programs, organizing events, and promoting the Sheriff’s mission. We offer an array of Community and School-based programs free of charge for all Suffolk County schools, businesses, organizations, non-profits and agencies. You can contact the Community Relations Office at (631) 852-5611 or via email at megan.adamo@suffolkcountyny.gov . Learn more about our programs below. Programs At a Glance YES Tours GREAT Program CRASE Training PET ID Cards At-risk Youth Jail Tour STOPPED Program Stop the Bleed Project Lifesaver Sandy Hook Promise McGruff the Crime Dog Car Seat Safety Checks Drug | Alcohol Test Kits College Internship Program Drug | Vaping Awareness Operation Safe Child Yellow Dot Program Explorers Program Vulnerability Assessments Senior ID Medical Cards Shed the Meds Programs Youth Enlightenment Seminar (YES) Tours : Every year, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office opens our doors for thousands of students to take an in-depth tour of both our Riverhead and Yaphank Correctional Facilities. The tours give a realistic, first-hand glimpse into the inner workings of our correctional facilities and what a daily life as a correction officer and justice-involved individuals looks like. YES Tours are a great fit for criminal justice classes or students interested in pursuing a career in the criminal justice field . LEARN MORE >> At-risk Youth Jail Tour: A growing number of Suffolk County`s youth are in danger of falling prey to criminal and gang activity. Young teens especially face peer pressures that often ma ke them act in ways that help them become “accepted” by a group, but they have no idea about the consequences of their behavior. As a result, many young people at an early age begin what may become a painful life of criminal behavior. The goal of the At-Risk Youth Jail Tour is to educate youth about the potential consequences of poor choices. These tours must be scheduled in advance and the youth must be accompanied be a par ent. BOOK NOW >> 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. LEARN MORE >> BOOK NOW >> 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. Sandy Hook Promise Start With Hello: This program 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: See Someone Alone -- Step 1: Learn how to recognize the signs of loneliness and social isolation. Reach Out And Help -- Step 2: Find out what you can do to help others feel included. Start With Hello -- Step 3: Discover how to break the ice and strike up a conversation. College Internship Program: The college internship program is recommended for students who have a strong interest in law enforcement and/or are currently enrolled in criminal justice courses. The program is designed to give an in-depth working view of the Sheriff's Office, offering a broad spectrum of work areas which contain different aspects of law, both criminal and civil. The program runs during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Spring and fall semesters run a 16-week pr ogram and the summer semester runs for 13-weeks. LEARN MORE >> Explorers Program: Law Enforcement Exploring is a hands-on program offering young adults a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through training, practical experiences, competition, and other activities. Exploring is intended to educate and involve youth in law enforcement operations, to interest them in possible law enforcement careers, and to build an understanding of working in the field. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Explorers Program promotes personal growth through character development, respect for the rule of law, physical fitness, good citizenship, and patriotism. LEARN MORE >> Gang Resistance & Education (GREAT) Program : The G.R.E.A.T. program is an evidence-based curriculum offered in many states throughout the nation. The classroom curriculum is taught by Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs and Correction Officers who received specialized training to present to elementary and middle school students. Prevention as its primary objective, the program aims to prevent bullying, youth crime, violence, drug use, and gang involvement while promoting a positive relationship among law enforcement, families, and our youth. G.R.E.A.T. Lessons focus on life skills designed to help students avoid using delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems, and further helps them make positive choices in life. BOOK NOW >> STOPPED ("Drunk Buggies") Program: The STOPPED program is a driver safety course for high school students. During the program, an officer will come to yo ur school and set up a drivers course with our "Drunk Buggies" to teach students about the risks of driving impaired. BOOK NOW >> McGruff the Crime Dog: The McGruff program offers children in first and second grade important personal safety lessons while getting them actively involved in the learning process. Children of all ages are faced with many types of social challenges, and unfortunately, bullying has become a serious issue for many kids. The McGruff Program seeks to give children the social tools they need to recognize bullying behavior, prevent it from occurring and handle it effectively when confronted with a tough situation whether on the playground, the bus, the lunchroom or playing in the neighborhood. BOOK NOW >> Drug and Vaping Awareness Programs: Since taking office in January 2018, Sheriff Toulon has made it a priority to visit with students and school officials to determine how the Sheriff’s Office could assist with programming and training to improve outcomes for youth in Suffolk County. The opioid epidemic, combined with an increase in marijuana use and vaping, were common concerns raised during his meetings. Drug use can often be an underlying cause of aggressive behavior in students and can result in other kinds of conduct -- and over time, poor grades and symptoms of depression or euphoria. School personnel may not equate certain behaviors with drug use or may not know the signs to look for when evaluating behavioral issues. The Sheriff’s Office has officers that provide training to students and school staff. These new programs teach basic education on vaping, drugs, opioid, and alcohol use, as well as diagnostic steps for assessing impairment and strategies to respond to drug and alcohol-induced situations. BOOK NOW >> School & Building Vulnerability Assessments: In 2018, Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. established a Security Assessment Initiative for Suffolk County schools and public buildings. This program allows schools and other organizations to have an assessment performed by a certified Crime Prevention Specialist at no cost. The Security Assessment helps to improve the security level of their premises to help prevent property damage or intrusion. These assessments offer site-specific safety tips on how to reduce t he incidences of crime. Using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles, specially trained Deputy Sheriffs check the property, identify vulnerable areas, and provide recommendations on how to enhance the security of the property. BOOK NOW >> CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event) Presentation : C.R.A.S.E. is designed to provide a model response program to civilians within their community. The presentation provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. This presentation is designed for any public or private building personnel, to educate them on how to respond in the event of an active shooter situation. This 2-hour program provides practical lessons on how to save lives. This program is available for all congregations, schools, offices, and businesses in the 5 East End towns of Suffolk County. BOOK NOW >> Stop the Bleed: Studies have shown that the help given by an immediate responder can often make the difference between life and death, even before professional rescuers arrive. Stop the Bleed training is a presentation and hands-on practice of direct pressure application, wound packing, and use of a tourniquet. The course was developed for a nonmedical audience to address the needs of the immediate responder to control life-threatening bleeding until help arrives. The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Stop the Bleed training is available for all schools, community organizations, businesses, and religious organizations in Suffolk County. BOOK NOW >> Child Car Seat Safety Checks: Nationwide, the statistics on child safety seats are startling. Up to 72 percent of the child safety seats in cars on the road have serious defects or are improperly installed. Protecting your precious cargo is your priority and we're here to help. Specially trained officers from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office are available to attend community forums and event to perform child car seat safety checks. Car seat checks take approximately 20 minutes per vehicle and should be booked in advance prior to your event. BOOK NOW >> Operation Safe Child ID Cards: Operation Safe Child was created in July of 2005 to raise awareness about child safety. Statistics show that 34% of parents in the United States do not know their child’s exact height, weight, and eye color. When a child is reported missing, time can be the biggest factor in finding the child. Possessing up-to-date photographs with detailed information about the child can greatly assist law enforcement when responding to a disappearance. These cards contain the child’s full name, date of birth, gender, height, weight, hair color, eye color, and more. The card is made in less than ten minutes and can be carried in the parent’s wallet or pocketbook. Operation Safe Child ID Cards are offered by the Sheriff’s Office free of charge at community events, libraries, and firehouses across Suffolk County. BOOK NOW >> Senior Medical ID Card: The Sheriff’s Office Medical ID Cards assist seniors or those with medical needs to keep all required medical information available on a small card with them at all times in case of emergency. The Sheriff's Office regularly visits senior centers, VFW halls and other community groups to provide emergency medical alert ID cards. There is no cost for the card. BOOK NOW >> Pet ID Cards: 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. 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. LEARN MORE >> Project Lifesaver: Project Lifesaver is a rapid-response program that aids victims (and their families) who wander as a result of cognitive impairments, or other afflictions. The program combines technology and specially trained Sheriff’s Deputies to locate individuals who have wandered. Project Lifesaver clients wear a “watch-type” wristband transmitter (worn on the wrist, ankle or as a necklace), which emits a tracking signal. When a caregiver calls the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line to report that a client has wandered, a search team responds to the wanderer’s area and, while in route, activates the vehicles mobile locator tracking system. A hand-held unit is used to search for clients in areas inaccessible by vehicles. LEARN MORE >> Test, Don't Guess Drug & Alcohol Test Kits: Home Drug Alcohol & Test kits have been purchased by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and are made available to residents in Suffolk County. The program aims to offer free drug test kits that can be used in privacy to assist parents and guardians with monitoring the behavior of their children who are under the age of 18. The test kits give parents a tool to engage in the critical conversations about drug use; and offers a method for parents who suspect their child may be using illegal substances to be reassured of their judgment and seek professional help if needed. Individual drug and alcohol test kits are available at your local legislator's office or at our Riverhead Correctional Facility located at: Riverhead Correctional Facility, 100 Center Drive South, Riverhead, NY 1190. Yellow Dot Program: Our Yellow Dot program assists citizens during the most critical times of emergency care - following a traffic crash - when they may not be able to communicate their needs themselves. Placing a Yellow Dot decal in your vehicle's rear window alerts first responders to check your glove compartment for vital information to ensure you receive the medical attention you need. BOOK NOW >> Shed the Meds : L ooking to get rid of unwanted or expired medications in a way that is safe and protects our environment? Drop them off for safe disposal by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. Safely disposing of medication prevents pollution of our ground water and keeps them out of the hands of young children and others who might abuse them. Shed the Meds events are for community members only. No commercial or doctor's office expired medication disposal. Liquid medications and sharps will not be accepted at the events. BOOK NOW >> Blue Envelope Program : The Blue Envelope Program is a traffic safety initiative designed to improve interactions between law enforcement and drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Drivers store their license, registration, and insurance in a blue envelope, which acts as a visual cue to officers that the individual may have specific communication needs. This allows for calmer, more informed traffic stops and helps prevent misunderstandings. The program builds on the success of the Autism Emergency Aid Card and reflects the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to inclusivity and public safety. BOOK NOW >> YES Tours At-risk Youth Jail Tour Sandy Hook Promise College Internship Program Explorers Program GREAT Program STOPPED Program McGruff DRE | Vaping Vulnerability Assessments CRASE Stop the Bleed Car Seat Safety Check Operation Safe Child Senior ID PET ID Project Lifesaver Drug Test Kits Yellow Dot Shed the Meds

  • Internship Program | Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

    The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office offers a college internship program for students who have an interest in law enforcement. College Internship Program The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office offers an exciting college internship program for students who have a strong interest in law enforcement and/or are currently enrolled in criminal justice courses. This unique program is designed to give college students hands on experience with all of the different units our agency has to offer, including popular visits with the Marine Bureau, Firearms, and K9 units. The interns also witness how outside agencies work hand in hand with one another as they visit units run by the Suffolk County Police Department, the Office of the Medical Examiner, and the Suffolk County Legislature. Interns visit both correctional facilities, the firearms range, the Emergency Vehicle Operator Course, the Suffolk County Crime Lab, the Warrant Squad, and the Domestic Violence Bureau. These visits allow students to work alongside officers in each area to give them knowledge, experience, and help them to make informed choices about a career in law enforcement. The Internship Program runs during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Spring and fall semesters run for 16 weeks and the summer semester runs for 13 weeks. Call 631-852-5611 for more information or send an email to megan.adamo@suffolkcountyny.gov . Typically included in the internship program: The Community Relations Unit offers students an overview of what the Sheriff’s Office does, how a law enforcement agency helps the county’s residents, and the various ways the Sheriff's office offers support and assistance to Suffolk County residents with a variety of community programs. An informative visit to District Court & Unified Courts provides the students with a working knowledge of the processing of inmates at the district court level and how all the courts work together. Exciting visits to the correctional facilities allow interns to tour the Riverhead and Yaphank facilities to get an understanding of the Correction Officers’ responsibilities and duties and to have an understanding of how the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities operate. All aboard! A ride along with the Marine Bureau provides the students with the knowledge, duties and responsibilities of the SCSO Marine Unit, patrolling Suffolk County's many bodies of water. Interns visit the Firearms Bureau for an opportunity to "take aim" with our staff. This visit provides the students with the knowledge of training SCSO officers and other law enforcement agencies including preparation of training schedules and monitoring firearms records. Did you know the Sheriff's Office is the only agency authorized to perform evictions? The Civil Bureau shows the students the “Civil Laws” and how the Sheriff’s Office serves the court orders. A visit to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Domestic Violence Unit provides our interns with information and first-hand experience on how important community assistance is to a law enforcement agency. Go for a ride! All interns have the opportunity to "ride along" with our Deputy Sheriff's as the conduct they enforce vehicle and traffic laws. These experiences enable interns to gain knowledge of patrol procedures and enforcement of traffic laws. Finally, the Personnel Investigation Bureau has a very important role in the internship, as every intern will learn exactly what procedures are followed to hire law enforcement or professional personnel. This information and advice is invaluable to any future law enforcement candidate. Sessions Fall Session Application Dates: July 15 - July 31 Starts: Labor Day Week (16 weeks) Spring Session Application Dates: November 15 - December 1 Starts: Third Week of January (16 weeks) Summer Session Application Dates: April 15 - May 1 Starts: the Wednesday after Memorial Day (13 weeks) How to Apply Applications to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Internship Progr am will only be accepted during the application dates listed above. Once the open period for the respective session arrives, applicants will need to submit the below application to be considered. Items required: Email the following to megan.adamo@suffolkcountyny.gov : A current resume A narrative essay no more than two single or double-spaced pages in length that sets forth, at a minimum, the following: Why you are interested in the SCSO Internship Program Your motivation and career goals The source of your inspiration for your motivation and career goals The skills that you would bring to SCSO if you were selected as an intern Please note: Failure to provide one or more of the documents listed above before the application deadline will result in lost consideration for the program. The email address to send the information to is megan.adamo @suffolkcountyny.gov

  • The START Resource Center | Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

    Learn more about the Sheriff's Office START Resource Center and how we're helping formerly incarcerated individuals. START Resource Center The Sheriff's Transition and Reentry Team (S.T.A.R.T.) opened its doors in February of 2020 and is currently comprised of five Correction Officers: three are Correctional Counselors and two are Community Correction Officers. Operating Monday through Friday, the services provided and the amount of justice involved individuals who utilize the Resource Center's services continue to increase. The team utilizes the three Correctional Counselors to interview inmates upon incarceration, assessing their needs both while incarcerated and post incarceration, and making the necessary referrals. Needs such as substance abuse treatment, education, job assistance, DSS assistance, identification issues, transportation, food, housing, and clothing are all then addressed and the two Community Correction Officers then work to establish a discharge plan for the individual's successful reentry into the community. Upon discharge from the facility, the justice involved individual visits the Resource Center. All the needs identified by the counselors are addressed by the Resource Center staff and the many service providers. At this time the warm hand-off to the community begins and lines of communication are established for follow up care. The Resource Center continues to remain available post incarceration for follow up assistance in the hopes of continued success. The START team provides a positive benefit to the community by facilitating the successful reentry of justice involved individuals with the hope of reducing recidivism. The START Resource Center is located at: 200 Glover Drive Yaphank, NY 11980 (631) 852-5391 DIRECTIONS: Take the Long Island Expressway to exit 67, Yaphank Avenue, and travel south for approximately 1.25 miles. Make a right onto Glover Drive. The Correctional Facility entrance is located at the end of Glover Drive.Follow the signs to the START Resource Center, located on your right, just before the Deputy Security Booth. Or via Bus route S68, Probation Stop Center Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm Walk-ins welcome Satelite Locations: Axis Church 19 N Country Rd, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 Spin the Yard 1529 Straight Path, Wyandanch, NY 11798 Service Providers The following is a list of community providers that offer support for individuals while they are incarcerated as well as when they transition back to the community. The START Resource center offers to assistance to any individual incarcerated within the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities or any individual who was previously incarcerated anywhere in the United States and is returning back to Suffolk County to establish residence. Department of Labor Resume Writing Mock Interviews Continuous Updates on Job Trends Facilitate Connections Between Employers and Justice Involved Individuals Veterans Resources Northport VA (Veterans Administration) Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency Salvation Army Long Island Harvest Hands Across Long Island Veterans Justice Outreach Fatherhood Initiative Joseph Dwyer Peer to Peer Program Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency Spiritual Support Meditation Paws Of War New Hour (Women & Children) Parenting Classes Health & Wellness Reentry Planning Discharge Planning Art Programs (in collaboration with Parrish Arts) Empowerment Collaborate Long Island (ECLI)(Male/Female) Survivors Group Empowerment Group Trauma focused individual counseling Discharge Planning Re-entry Counseling EAC Network | Empower, Assist, Care Reentry Planning Discharge Planning Case Management Services BOCES Providing Literacy Workshops TASC (Test Assessing Secondary Completion) Vocational Programs Family Service League Addiction Services & Treatment Training and Employment Family & Community Support Mental Health Support Trauma and Crisis Counseling Leadership Training Institute (LTI) Thinking for a Change Interactive Journaling Long Island Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence (LICADD) Substance Abuse Counseling Suffolk Cooperative Library System Educational & Recreational Books for both county jails Axis Church START Satellite Center in Port Jefferson, NY Personal items/Toiletries Baby Items Celebrate Recovery Group

  • Community Relations | Suffolk County Sheriffs Office

    The Community Relations Unit is responsible for implementing community outreach and school-based programs, organizing events, and promoting the Sheriff’s mission. Community Relations Unit Programs At a Glance YES Tours GREAT Program CRASE Training PET ID Cards At-risk Youth Jail Tour STOPPED Program Stop the Bleed Project Lifesaver Sandy Hook Promise McGruff the Crime Dog Car Seat Safety Checks Drug | Alcohol Test Kits College Internship Program Drug | Vaping Awareness Operation Safe Child Yellow Dot Program Explorers Program Vulnerability Assessments Medical ID Cards Shed the Meds Programs Youth Enlightenment Seminar (YES) Tours : Every year, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office opens our doors for thousands of students to take an in-depth tour of both our Riverhead and Yaphank Correctional Facilities. The tours give a realistic, first-hand glimpse into the inner workings of our correctional facilities and what a daily life as a correction officer and justice-involved individuals looks like. YES Tours are a great fit for criminal justice classes or students interested in pursuing a career in the criminal justice field . LEARN MORE >> At-risk Youth Jail Tour: A growing number of Suffolk County`s youth are in danger of falling prey to criminal and gang activity. Young teens especially face peer pressures that often ma ke them act in ways that help them become “accepted” by a group, but they have no idea about the consequences of their behavior. As a result, many young people at an early age begin what may become a painful life of criminal behavior. The goal of the At-Risk Youth Jail Tour is to educate youth about the potential consequences of poor choices. These tours must be scheduled in advance and the youth must be accompanied be a par ent. BOOK NOW >> 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. LEARN MORE >> BOOK NOW >> 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. Sandy Hook Promise Start With Hello: This program 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: See Someone Alone -- Step 1: Learn how to recognize the signs of loneliness and social isolation. Reach Out And Help -- Step 2: Find out what you can do to help others feel included. Start With Hello -- Step 3: Discover how to break the ice and strike up a conversation. College Internship Program: The college internship program is recommended for students who have a strong interest in law enforcement and/or are currently enrolled in criminal justice courses. The program is designed to give an in-depth working view of the Sheriff's Office, offering a broad spectrum of work areas which contain different aspects of law, both criminal and civil. The program runs during the spring, summer, and fall semesters. Spring and fall semesters run a 16-week pr ogram and the summer semester runs for 13-weeks. LEARN MORE >> Explorers Program: Law Enforcement Exploring is a hands-on program offering young adults a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through training, practical experiences, competition, and other activities. Exploring is intended to educate and involve youth in law enforcement operations, to interest them in possible law enforcement careers, and to build an understanding of working in the field. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Explorers Program promotes personal growth through character development, respect for the rule of law, physical fitness, good citizenship, and patriotism. LEARN MORE >> Gang Resistance & Education (GREAT) Program : The G.R.E.A.T. program is an evidence-based curriculum offered in many states throughout the nation. The classroom curriculum is taught by Suffolk County Deputy Sheriffs and Correction Officers who received specialized training to present to elementary and middle school students. Prevention as its primary objective, the program aims to prevent bullying, youth crime, violence, drug use, and gang involvement while promoting a positive relationship among law enforcement, families, and our youth. G.R.E.A.T. Lessons focus on life skills designed to help students avoid using delinquent behavior and violence to solve problems, and further helps them make positive choices in life. BOOK NOW >> STOPPED ("Drunk Buggies") Program: The STOPPED program is a driver safety course for high school students. During the program, an officer will come to yo ur school and set up a drivers course with our "Drunk Buggies" to teach students about the risks of driving impaired. BOOK NOW >> McGruff the Crime Dog: The McGruff program offers children in first and second grade important personal safety lessons while getting them actively involved in the learning process. Children of all ages are faced with many types of social challenges, and unfortunately, bullying has become a serious issue for many kids. The McGruff Program seeks to give children the social tools they need to recognize bullying behavior, prevent it from occurring and handle it effectively when confronted with a tough situation whether on the playground, the bus, the lunchroom or playing in the neighborhood. BOOK NOW >> Drug and Vaping Awareness Programs: Since taking office in January 2018, Sheriff Toulon has made it a priority to visit with students and school officials to determine how the Sheriff’s Office could assist with programming and training to improve outcomes for youth in Suffolk County. The opioid epidemic, combined with an increase in marijuana use and vaping, were common concerns raised during his meetings. Drug use can often be an underlying cause of aggressive behavior in students and can result in other kinds of conduct -- and over time, poor grades and symptoms of depression or euphoria. School personnel may not equate certain behaviors with drug use or may not know the signs to look for when evaluating behavioral issues. The Sheriff’s Office has officers that provide training to students and school staff. These new programs teach basic education on vaping, drugs, opioid, and alcohol use, as well as diagnostic steps for assessing impairment and strategies to respond to drug and alcohol-induced situations. BOOK NOW >> School & Building Vulnerability Assessments: In 2018, Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. established a Security Assessment Initiative for Suffolk County schools and public buildings. This program allows schools and other organizations to have an assessment performed by a certified Crime Prevention Specialist at no cost. The Security Assessment helps to improve the security level of their premises to help prevent property damage or intrusion. These assessments offer site-specific safety tips on how to reduce t he incidences of crime. Using Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles, specially trained Deputy Sheriffs check the property, identify vulnerable areas, and provide recommendations on how to enhance the security of the property. BOOK NOW >> CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Event) Presentation : C.R.A.S.E. is designed to provide a model response program to civilians within their community. The presentation provides strategies, guidance, and a proven plan for surviving an active shooter event. This presentation is designed for any public or private building personnel, to educate them on how to respond in the event of an active shooter situation. This 2-hour program provides practical lessons on how to save lives. This program is available for all congregations, schools, offices, and businesses in the 5 East End towns of Suffolk County. BOOK NOW >> Stop the Bleed: Studies have shown that the help given by an immediate responder can often make the difference between life and death, even before professional rescuers arrive. Stop the Bleed training is a presentation and hands-on practice of direct pressure application, wound packing, and use of a tourniquet. The course was developed for a nonmedical audience to address the needs of the immediate responder to control life-threatening bleeding until help arrives. The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Stop the Bleed training is available for all schools, community organizations, businesses, and religious organizations in Suffolk County. BOOK NOW >> Child Car Seat Safety Checks: Nationwide, the statistics on child safety seats are startling. Up to 72 percent of the child safety seats in cars on the road have serious defects or are improperly installed. Protecting your precious cargo is your priority and we're here to help. Specially trained officers from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office are available to attend community forums and event to perform child car seat safety checks. Car seat checks take approximately 20 minutes per vehicle and should be booked in advance prior to your event. BOOK NOW >> Operation Safe Child ID Cards: Operation Safe Child was created in July of 2005 to raise awareness about child safety. Statistics show that 34% of parents in the United States do not know their child’s exact height, weight, and eye color. When a child is reported missing, time can be the biggest factor in finding the child. Possessing up-to-date photographs with detailed information about the child can greatly assist law enforcement when responding to a disappearance. These cards contain the child’s full name, date of birth, gender, height, weight, hair color, eye color, and more. The card is made in less than ten minutes and can be carried in the parent’s wallet or pocketbook. Operation Safe Child ID Cards are offered by the Sheriff’s Office free of charge at community events, libraries, and firehouses across Suffolk County. BOOK NOW >> Medical ID Card: The Sheriff’s Office Medical ID Cards assist seniors or those with medical needs to keep all required medical information available on a small card with them at all times in case of emergency. The Sheriff's Office regularly visits senior centers, VFW halls and other community groups to provide emergency medical alert ID cards. There is no cost for the card. BOOK NOW >> Pet ID Cards: 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. 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. LEARN MORE >> Project Lifesaver: Project Lifesaver is a rapid-response program that aids victims (and their families) who wander as a result of cognitive impairments, or other afflictions. The program combines technology and specially trained Sheriff’s Deputies to locate individuals who have wandered. Project Lifesaver clients wear a “watch-type” wristband transmitter (worn on the wrist, ankle or as a necklace), which emits a tracking signal. When a caregiver calls the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line to report that a client has wandered, a search team responds to the wanderer’s area and, while in route, activates the vehicles mobile locator tracking system. A hand-held unit is used to search for clients in areas inaccessible by vehicles. LEARN MORE >> Test, Don't Guess Drug & Alcohol Test Kits: Home Drug Alcohol & Test kits have been purchased by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and are made available to residents in Suffolk County. The program aims to offer free drug test kits that can be used in privacy to assist parents and guardians with monitoring the behavior of their children who are under the age of 18. The test kits give parents a tool to engage in the critical conversations about drug use; and offers a method for parents who suspect their child may be using illegal substances to be reassured of their judgment and seek professional help if needed. Individual drug and alcohol test kits are available at your local legislator's office or at our Riverhead Correctional Facility located at: Riverhead Correctional Facility, 100 Center Drive South, Riverhead, NY 1190. Yellow Dot Program: Our Yellow Dot program assists citizens during the most critical times of emergency care - following a traffic crash - when they may not be able to communicate their needs themselves. Placing a Yellow Dot decal in your vehicle's rear window alerts first responders to check your glove compartment for vital information to ensure you receive the medical attention you need. BOOK NOW >> Shed the Meds : L ooking to get rid of unwanted or expired medications in a way that is safe and protects our environment? Drop them off for safe disposal by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. Safely disposing of medication prevents pollution of our ground water and keeps them out of the hands of young children and others who might abuse them. Shed the Meds events are for community members only. No commercial or doctor's office expired medication disposal. Liquid medications and sharps will not be accepted at the events. BOOK NOW >> Blue Envelope Program : The Blue Envelope Program is a traffic safety initiative designed to improve interactions between law enforcement and drivers with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Drivers store their license, registration, and insurance in a blue envelope, which acts as a visual cue to officers that the individual may have specific communication needs. This allows for calmer, more informed traffic stops and helps prevent misunderstandings. The program builds on the success of the Autism Emergency Aid Card and reflects the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to inclusivity and public safety. BOOK NOW >> YES Tours At-risk Youth Jail Tour Sandy Hook Promise College Internship Program Explorers Program GREAT Program STOPPED Program McGruff DRE | Vaping Vulnerability Assessments CRASE Stop the Bleed Car Seat Safety Check Operation Safe Child Senior ID PET ID Project Lifesaver Drug Test Kits Yellow Dot Shed the Meds

  • Project Lifesaver | Suffolk County Sheriffs Office

    Project Lifesaver is a rapid-response program that aids victims and their families, who wander as a result of cognitive impairments. Project Lifesaver Project Lifesaver is a rapid-response program that aids victims (and their families) who wander as a result of cognitive impairments, or other afflictions. The program combines technology and specially trained Sheriff’s Deputies to locate individuals who have wandered. Project Lifesaver clients wear a “watch-type” wristband transmitter (worn on the wrist, ankle or as a necklace), which emits a tracking signal. When a caregiver calls the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line to report that a client has wandered, a search team responds to the wanderer’s area and, while in route, activates the vehicles mobile locator tracking system. A hand-held unit is used to search for clients in areas inaccessible by vehicles. In an emergency, caregivers must immediately notify the: Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver Emergency Response Line at 631-852-2791 and dial 911. How to Enroll in Project Lifesaver Enrollment applications can be obtained by calling (631) 852-3003. Your enrollment application must be completed and submitted to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office at 100 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Once your application is reviewed, an appointment will be made for a home visit by a Project Lifesaver specialist from the Sheriff’s Office. How to Purchase Project Lifesaver Equipment The purchase of enrollment equipment is coordinated through the Sheriff’s Office once the client’s application is approved. Monthly Maintenance Monthly and/or yearly battery and wristband purchases may be requested by calling the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office at (631) 852-3003. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is Project Lifesaver? Project Lifesaver is a rapid-response program that aids clients (and their families) who wander as a result of cognitive impairments, or other afflictions. Who sponsors Project Lifesaver? Project Lifesaver is sponsored by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office as well as non-profit organizations who make donations to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Foundation for Project Lifesaver. How does Project Lifesaver work? The program combines technology and specially trained Sheriff’s Deputies to locate individuals who have wandered. Project Lifesaver clients wear a “watch-type” wristband transmitter (worn on the wrist, ankle or as a necklace), which emits a tracking signal. When a caregiver calls the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line to report that a client has wandered, a search team responds to the wanderer’s area and, while in route, activates the vehicles mobile locator tracking system. A hand-held unit is used to search for clients in areas inaccessible by vehicles. How long does it take to enroll in Project Lifesaver? Applications can be requested by calling 631-852-3003. A Sheriff’s Deputy will then meet with the potential client/caregiver/family member making certain that the area is safe for the potential client and to assist with the necessary paperwork and instructions. How long does it take for the Project Lifesaver program to begin? Once you have met with a member of the Project Lifesaver Bureau and have the necessary equipment (transmitters take up to 2-4 weeks to ship), the program starts immediately. How is the initial equipment purchased? The purchase of Enrollment Equipment is coordinated through the Sheriff’s Office once the client’s application is approved. How is monthly maintenance equipment purchased? Caregiver purchase requests for batteries and wristbands, for monthly maintenance, can be obtained by calling 631-852-3003, or by email at: lifesaver@suffolkcountyny.gov , or through a registered Project Lifesaver International sponsor, or care facility. What happens if someone wanders? Caregivers must immediately notify the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver emergency response line (631-852-2791), and dial “911.” Project Lifesaver Bringing Loved Ones Home How long does it take to locate a missing client? Nationally, response times vary, but average under 30 minutes. How frequently should a transmitter battery be changed? Batteries emit a signal every second (24/7) and must be changed monthly. Is the transmitter waterproof? Yes. Clients can shower and swim while wearing the transmitter. Is the client’s transmitting equipment covered by insurance as a medical necessity? Check with your insurance carrier. If necessary, the Sheriff's Office can provide documentation to the insurance carrier that the client in question is enrolled in the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Project Lifesaver Program. What happens if something goes wrong with my equipment? Call the Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line immediately (631-852-2791). What happens if the transmitter is lost? Call the Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line immediately (631-852-2791). Are there other Project Lifesaver programs? Project Lifesaver began in the Sheriff’s Office, Chesapeake, Virginia in 1999 and is now in over 1,300 Sheriff and Police agencies across the United States, Canada and Australia. Is there a guarantee that a person wearing a Project Lifesaver transmitter will be located? Client searches involve different variables and incidents are unpredictable. In over 3,000 reported searches, Project Lifesaver agencies have achieved a 100% success rate. The Sheriff’s Office feels Project Lifesaver equipment and established procedures greatly increases the likelihood of “Bringing Your Loved Ones Home” safely. Submit Thank you for your request. Someone will contact you shortly.

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