Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

Suffolk County Sheriff's Office
Seal of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office
Abbreviation	SCSO
Agency overview
Formed	1683
Employees	1316
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	Suffolk, New York, United States
Map of Suffolk County Sheriff's Office's jurisdiction
Size	911 square miles (2,360 km2)
Population	1.5 Million +
Legal jurisdiction	Suffolk County, NY
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Riverside, New York
Deputy Sheriffs Correction Officers	270 officers 841
Civilian members	130 civilian employees
Agency executives	Errol D. Toulon, Jr., Sheriff Steven J. Kuehhas, 4 Star Undersheriff Kevin T. Catalina, 3 Star Undersheriff Michael Catuosco, Deputy Undersheriff
Facilities
Stations	6
Airbases	1
Jails	4
Patrol Boats	7
Surveillance fixed wings	1
Canines	5
Website
Official website

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office is the oldest law enforcement agency in Suffolk County, New York, having been established in 1683. The Sheriff's Office currently employs over 1300 people, including 898 correction officers, 288 deputy sheriffs, and 130 civilian personnel.^[1] It's Office and Business Operations are located at the Riverhead Correctional Facility, 100 Center Drive South in Riverhead (although it bears the Riverhead name, it is actually south of the Peconic River in Riverside in the Town of Southampton).

The Sheriff of Suffolk County is the highest ranking Law Enforcement Officer in Suffolk County and is elected to the term of four years.^[2] In 2012, the Sheriff's Office became a New York State Accredited Law Enforcement Agency.^[3]

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 County). The remainder of Long Island belonged to the North riding. Collectively, the three ridings were called Yorkshire.

The colonial governor of New York 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 New York Constitution, adopted in 1777. At the 1821 constitutional convention, the office of sheriff became an elective office. That year, Abraham Gardiner became Suffolk County's first elected sheriff.

Authority[]

The Sheriff along with the District Attorney are the only two positions mandated by the NYS Constitution. Therefore the Sheriff’s powers and authorities are directly granted by the State Constitution. Only the Governor can remove a sitting Sheriff from Office. In the absences of the Sheriff the powers and authorities are directly transferred to Deputy Sheriffs.

• Deputy Sheriffs are granted full police officer powers in the State of New York under Article 2, §1.20, sub 34(b) of the state Criminal Procedure Law.
• Correction Officers are designated as peace officers in the State of New York under Article 2, §2.10 of the state Criminal Procedure Law which limits peace officers powers to those directly pursuant to the duties of a correctional officer.

Duties[]

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office:

• Provides Deputy Sheriffs who provide service and enforcement of civil actions, evictions and warrants through its Enforcement Bureau.
• Is responsible for Deputy Sheriffs patrolling and investigating all crimes committed on county-owned property such as county government office buildings and plays a leading law enforcement role in the Long Island Pine Barrens.
• Has a Countywide DWI Enforcement Team which consists of Deputy Sheriffs operating as Drug Recognition Experts (D.R.E.), which is funded by the STOP-DWI program.
• Issues pistol permits for the 5 eastern townships of Suffolk County through its Pistol License Bureau.
• Has a Warrant Squad where Deputy Sheriff Investigators are responsible for apprehending fugitives wanted on state and local warrants.
• The Juvenile Bureau tasks Deputy Sheriff Investigators with the investigation, arrest, and processing of all juveniles. The Juvenile Bureau has experienced a significant rise in juvenile-related arrests after NYS implemented its laws.
• Operates an Emergency Management Section. During State and County emergencies Deputy Sheriffs are reassigned to work in the joint Suffolk County Emergency Management Section. The Sheriff and the County Executive are the two County Officials with a broad range of authority in declaring a State of Emergency.
• Operates a Domestic Violence Bureau. Deputy Sheriffs assigned to this command serve and enforce the Orders of Protection; they arrest individuals charged with violating Orders of Protection and those with Family Offense-related warrants. The third function is to provide victims with a safe refuge by removing batterers from the home, seizing weapons, and executing all arrest warrants against the perpetrators of domestic violence.
• 

  A Marked Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Patrol Unit is pictured in front of the Riverhead Correctional Facility.
  Has Deputy Sheriffs assigned to several specialized sections, including K-9, Marine Patrol, a Dive Team, a Mountain Bike Unit, an ATV Unit, an Honor Guard, Air Support Unit, Grants Bureau, Warrant Squad, Criminal Investigations Bureau, a Special Response Team (SRT) consisting of tactically armed Deputy Sheriffs including a sniper section.
• Deputy Sheriff Investigators assigned to the Special Investigations Unit perform undercover narcotics investigations.
• Is the Downstate New York Coordinator for Project Lifesaver. Project Lifesaver is a Countywide Emergency Locator Service capable of finding those diagnosed with cognitive impairment (Alzheimer's, Dementia, Autism, Down Syndrome, etc.) which may cause them to wander and become lost. Those enrolled in the program wear a one-ounce tracking device that can be tracked by specially trained Deputy Sheriffs.
• Deputy Sheriff Investigators work in specially created joint task forces such as the United States Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force, Homeland Security Task Force, the East End Drug Task Force, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force JTTF
• Deputy Sheriff Investigators assigned to the District Attorney’s Office work in units such as the Heroin Task Force and Financial Crimes Bureau.
• Operates two Suffolk County correctional facilities (in Yaphank and Riverhead), where Correction Officers are responsible for approximately 1,000 inmates. The Sheriff's Emergency Services Unit (ESU), consisting of specially trained Correction Officers, responds to all emergencies inside the correctional facilities.
• Correction Officer Investigators in the Gang Intelligence Unit provide law enforcement with vital gang intelligence including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
• Has uniformed Deputy Sheriffs assigned to securely transport inmates both locally and statewide.

Uniforms[]

The Sheriff, Undersheriffs, Chief of Staff, Chief Deputy Sheriff, and Deputy Sheriffs all wear a black uniform with a black and gold patch.

A Deputy Sheriff’s arm patch is inscribed with the word DEPUTY and seven-point star.

Correction Officers wear a blue shirt with dark blue pants. A corrections officer’s arm patch is inscribed with the words CORRECTION OFFICER and seven-point star.

Service weapons[]

• The Suffolk Sheriff standard-issue sidearm for Deputy Sheriffs is the Glock 19 pistol. The standard-issue patrol shotgun is the Remington 870 though in 2018 a transition to the M-16 rifle began.
• Deputies assigned to SRT and Deputy Sheriff Investigators are issued a Colt M4 short-barreled rifle chambered in 5.56mm.
• Sniper/counter-sniper team Deputies utilize the Remington M40A5 sniper rifle.
• Correction Officers are generally not issued any firearms but may purchase a weapon of personal choice. Correction Officer Supervisors, Investigators, and selected Officers are issued Glock 19 pistols.
• Deputy Sheriffs along with several Correctional Officers are issued the TASER 7 CEW.
• Correction Officers and Deputy Sheriffs have been issued Oleoresin capsicum (OC) pepper spray.
• Correction Officers and Deputy Sheriffs are issued the ASP expandable baton.

Rank structure[]

Up until 2006, the SCSO had an Undersheriff for Corrections and an Undersheriff for Law Enforcement. The Sheriff at that time, Vincent F. DeMarco, changed that precedent by appointing an Undersheriff as his number two man in the department and a second Undersheriff subordinate to the first. There is also one Warden.

Title	Insignia
Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.
Undersheriff Steven Kuehhas
Undersheriff Kevin Catalina / Deputy Undersheriff Michael Catuosco
Chief Deputy Sheriff / Chief of Staff / Warden
Warden (Currently unfilled)
Deputy Warden
Captain/Investigator Captain
Lieutenant/Investigator Lieutenant
Sergeant/Investigator Sergeant
Deputy Sheriff Investigator/Correction Officer Investigator Deputy Sheriff/Correction Officer

History of the Correctional Facilities[]

The first Suffolk County Jail was erected in 1727 on the north side of Main Street in Riverhead at the site of the former Perkins store. A bronze plaque erected by the Suffolk County Historical Society now 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 courthouse 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 courthouse. 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 New York 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, creating 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 (colloquially referred to as the "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.

In 1965, an inspection of the Suffolk County Jail, conducted by the State Commission of Correction, pointed out the need for the 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 jail 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 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 expansion prompted the renaming of 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.

List of Sheriffs[]

There have been many Sheriffs through 332 years of service.^[2]

Sheriff	Start of term	Sheriff	Start of term	Sheriff	Start of term
Josiah Hobbert	1683	Abraham Gardiner	1821	Henry Preston	1903
John Mulford	1701	Samuel Smith	1826	John Wells	1906
Hugh Gray	1702	Abraham Gardiner	1829	Charles Platt	1909
John Brush	1710	Richard Smith	1832	Melville Brush	1912
Daniel Youngs	1718	Silas Horton	1835	D. Henry Brown	1913
Samuel Dayton	1723	Samuel Miller	1838	Charles O'Dell	1914
William Sell	1728	David Brush	1841	Amza Biggs	1917
Joseph Smith	1730	Henry Penny	1844	John Kelly	1920
David Corrie	1731	David Rose	1847	Amza Biggs	1923
Jacob Conklin	1734	John Clark	1850	Burton Howe	1926
Thomas Higbe	1740	Samuel Phillips	1855	Ellis Taylor	1929
James Muirson	1774	George Carman	1856	Joseph Warta	1932
Thomas Wickes	1785	Stephen Wilson	1859	William McCollom	1935
Silas Halsey	1787	Daniel Osborn	1862	Jacob Dreyer	1938
Thomas Wickes	1791	George Smith	1868	John Levy	1941
Phinaes Carll	1799	J. Henry Perkins	1871	William McCollom	1942
Josiah Reeve	1803	Egbert Lewis	1874	Charles Dominy	1957
Phinaes Smith	1807	George Cooper	1877	Frank Gross	1962
Josiah Reeve	1808	Robert Petty	1888	Philip Corso	1970
Benjamin Brewster	1810	Selah Brewster	1883	Donald Dilworth	1976
Josiah Reeve	1811	Henry Halsey	1886	John Finnerty	1977
Benjamin Brewster	1812	Robert Petty	1888	Eugene Dooley	1986
Josiah Reeve	1813	A. M. Darling	1891	Patrick Mahoney	1990
Nathaniel Conklin	1814	Benjamin Wood	1897	Alfred C. Tisch	2002
Josiah Reeve	1815	J. Sheridan Wells	1900	Vincent F. DeMarco	2006
Samuel Carll	1819			Errol D. Toulon, Jr.	2018

Line of duty deaths[]

Since the establishment of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, five officers have died in the line of duty.^[4]

Officer	Date of Death	Details
Deputy Sheriff William Henry Rafford	Wednesday, December 16, 1903	Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff George A. Stillwell	Friday, August 10, 1906	Gunfire
Deputy Sheriff Harold E. Vanderoef Jr.	Thursday, June 4, 1987	Struck by vehicle
Correction Officer Andrew Paul Reister	Saturday, August 9, 2008	Assault
Correction Sergeant Investigator Keith Allison	Thursday, December 17, 2020	COVID-19

SCSO awards, commendations, citations and medals[]

The Sheriff's Office presents a number of medals to its members for meritorious service.

• Medal of Honor:

A gold medal and a blue and gold bar (inscription "HONOR"). The Sheriff’s Office Medal of Honor may be awarded to any Sworn Officer of the Sheriff’s Office who, while being fully aware of an imminent risk of life, intelligently distinguishes himself/herself in an act of gallantry above and beyond the call of duty.

• Combat Gold Medal:

A gold medal and a blue-red-blue bar (inscription "COMBAT"). The Combat Gold Medal may be awarded for the successful performance of an act of extraordinary heroism while engaged in personal combat with an armed adversary, at imminent personal hazard of live, in the intelligent performance of duty.

• Bravery Gold Medal:

A gold medal and a red-blue-red bar (inscription "BRAVERY"). The Bravery Gold Medal may be awarded for an act of outstanding personal bravery intelligently performed, involving personal risk of life, or involvining grave personal danger.

• Combat Silver Medal

A silver medal and a blue-white-blue bar (inscription "COMBAT"). The Combat Silver Medal may be awarded for the successful performance of an act of heroism while engaged in personal combat with an armed adversary, at imminent personal hazard of live, in the intelligent performance of duty.

• Bravery Silver Medal

A silver medal and a white-blue-white bar (inscription "BRAVERY"). The Bravery Silver Medal may be awarded for an act of personal bravery intelligently performed, involving personal risk of life, or involvining grave personal danger.

• Purple Heart:

A solid purple bar. The Purple Heart may be awarded to any Sworn Officer of the Sheriff’s Office who is seriously wounded as a result of the hostile actions of another occurring under honorable conditions, or posthumously, to a Sworn Member of the Sheriff's Office who is killed in the performance of duty under honorable conditions as the result of the hostile actions of another.

• Exceptional Meritorious Award:

A white-blue-white-red-white-blue-white breast bar. May be awarded for an act of personal bravery, intelligently performed, involving grave personal danger.

• Meritorious Service Award:

A bronze plaque with a blue-white-blue bar. The Meritorious Service Award may be awarded to any Sworn Officer of the Sheriff’s Office who, while in the line of duty and exhibiting professionalism to the highest degree, distinguishes himself/herself in overcoming a seemingly insurmountable task, problem, situation or period of time through the use of constant faithfulness, perseverance and an overall dedication to duty.

• Exceptional Service Award:

A red-white-red bar. The Exceptional Service Award may be awarded to any member of the Sheriff’s Office who, while in the line of duty and exhibiting professionalism to the highest degree, distinguishes himself/herself to such an extent that this action goes beyond those which are normally expected of a Sheriff’s Office member.

• Special Service Award:

A white-blue-white-blue-white breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who submits a device or method adopted by the Office, which significantly increases efficiency in administrative or tactical procedures.

• DWI Award:

A blue and gray breast bar (inscription "5", "10", "20", or "50" in silver within the blue and "STOP D.W.I." in blue within the gray). Awarded to a Deputy Sheriff who has affected five or more, as indicated by the numeral, arrests for DWI.

• Letter of Commendation:

A Letter of Commendation may be awarded to members of the Sheriff’s Office who conduct themselves in a professional manner while performing their duties and by their deeds give other members an ideal or example to follow. In addition, the member's conduct went beyond the set standard and demonstrated a truly special strength or action evidencing courage, resourcefulness and/or a particular dedication to duty.

• Letter of Recognition:

A Letter of Recognition may be awarded to members of the Sheriff’s Office who conduct themselves in a professional manner while performing their duties and by their deeds give other members an ideal or example to follow.

• Civilian Commendation:

A laminated letter plaque. The Civilian Commendation may be awarded to a civilian who has rendered assistance to a member of the Sheriff’s Office during an emergency or who has rendered outstanding assistance to the Sheriff’s Office as a whole.

• Civilian Award:

A Certificate of Appreciation. The Civilian Award may be awarded to any individual or organization who, by act or deed, has contributed to a better Sheriff’s Office-community relationship.

• Unit Award:

A gold plaque. The Unit Award may be awarded to any unit, section, bureau or command in the Sheriff’s Office which demonstrates unit integrity and outstanding performance over a period of time or for a specific assignment, and while in the performance of its duties, went beyond the set standard and demonstrated a truly special strength or action evidencing courage, resourcefulness and/or a particular dedication to duty.

• 9-11 World Trade Center Award:

A red, white, blue and gold (American Flag) breast bar (inscription "09-11-01" in gold). Awarded to each Sworn Officer of the Sheriff's Office who was assigned to the World Trade Center "Ground Zero"site in New York City.

• T.W.A. Flight 800 Crash Site Award:

A blue breast bar (inscription "TWA 800"). Awarded to each Sworn Officer of the Sheriff's Officer who was assigned to the TWA crash site in July 1996.

• Professionalization Award:

A white over blue breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who has received a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university or college, or a Sworn Officer who has been awarded an associate degree from an accredited university or college.

• Emergency Medical Technician Award:

A green breast bar with a gold medical insignia. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who has been certified as an Emergency Medical Technician or as a Paramedic by the New York State Department of Health.

• Firearms Instructor Award:

A black breast bar with "Firearms Instructor" in gold. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who has been certified as an Firearms Instructor by the Office of Public Safety of the State of New York.

• Instructor Award:

A white-red-white-red-white breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who has been certified as an Instructor by the Office of Public Safety of the State of New York.

• Field Training Officer Award:

A blue-yellow-blue-yellow-blue-yellow-blue breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is an active certified participant in the Field Training Officer Program.

• Tactical Unit Award:

A black breast bar with "Tactical Unit" in gold. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who has been certified as a Tactical Rifle and Concealment Sniper by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is an active member of the T.R.A.C. Unit.

• S.E.R.T. Unit Award:

A black breast bar with "S.E.R.T." in gold. Awarded to a Correction Officer who has successfully completed the course of instruction approved by the Sheriff's Office and is an active Sworn Officer of the Sheriff's Office S.E.R.T. Unit.

• Longevity Award:

A gold-red-gold breast bar (inscription "5", "10", "15", '20", "25", "30", or "35" in gold). Awarded to a Sworn Officer who has completed the appropriate number of years of service.

• Military Veteran Award:

A blue breast bar with 12 gold stars. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a military veteran.

• Military Branch of Service Award:

Air Force - A light blue breast bar (United States Air Force insignia in silver). Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Air Force.

Army - A black breast bar (United States Army insignia in gold). Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Army.

Coast Guard - A blue breast bar (United States Coast Guard insignia in gold). Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.

Marine Corps - A red breast bar (United States Marine Corp insignia in gold). Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

Navy - A blue breast bar (United States Navy insignia in gold). Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Navy.

• Firearms Proficiency Award:

A gold breast bar (inscription "PISTOL SHARPSHOOTER", "PISTOL EXPERT" OR "DISTINGUISHED PISTOL EXPERT"). Awarded to a Sworn Officer for attaining a level of proficiency with the service firearm.

See also[]

• List of law enforcement agencies in New York
• List of Long Island law enforcement agencies
• Suffolk County Police Department

Coordinates: 40°54′49″N 72°40′04″W / 40.913517°N 72.667914°W / 40.913517; -72.667914

References[]

External links[]

• Official website