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Community Relations Unit

Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff

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 william.blomberg@suffolkcountyny.gov

 

Learn more about our programs below.

Programs At a Glance

 

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 make 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 parent. BOOK NOW >>

Sandy Hook PromiseIn 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:

  1. See Someone Alone -- Step 1: Learn how to recognize the signs of loneliness and social isolation.

  2. Reach Out And Help -- Step 2: Find out what you can do to help others feel included.

  3. 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 program 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 your 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 the 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: Looking 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 >>

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
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