Vicki DiStefano Vicki DiStefano is the Public Information Officer for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office acting as the lead spokesperson and media liaison for the Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. Vicki has worked in public relations and government for over a decade and has experience in working for both local municipalities and County-wide offices. Most recently, Vicki served as Senior Communications Advisor for former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran where she managed hundreds of press conferences and initiatives to highlight County correspondence, policy items and events. During her time at Nassau County she was the lead press officer for Nassau’s COVID-19 and emergency communications, including managing daily COVID-19 briefings for the County Executive, promoting public health initiatives, publicizing County economic relief programs and managing vaccine roll-out campaigns. Prior to working for Nassau County, Vicki was the Press and Film Liaison for the Town of North Hempstead. In addition to the daily public and media relations aspects of her position, she served as a conduit between major film productions and the Town to encourage filming and economic development. Before specializing in government, she began her career in the private sector, serving as the Public Relations and Marketing Manager for a financial law firm. Vicki received her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Public Relations and Women’s Studies from SUNY New Paltz.

College Internships ​The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office offers a college internship program 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. Call 631-852-2663 for more information or send us a note using the form below. Typically included in the internship program: The Community Relations Unit offers students an overview of how a law enforcement agency helps the county’s citizens understand the Sheriff’s Office, while at the same time offers support and assistance to Suffolk County residents with a variety of community programs. The District Court & Unified Courts provide the students with a working knowledge of the processing of inmates at the district court and how all the courts work together. Facility Tours allow interns to tour the Riverhead and Yaphank facilities and get an understanding of the Correction Officers’ responsibilities and duties and to have an understanding of the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities and system. The Marine Bureau provides the students with the knowledge, duties and responsibilities of the SCSO Marine Unit. The Firearms Bureau provides the students with the knowledge of training SCSO officers and other law enforcement agencies including preparation of training schedules and monitoring firearms records. The Civil Bureau shows the students the “Civil Laws” and how the Sheriff’s Office links to all court orders. 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. The Domestic Violence Unit provides our intern's information and first-hand experience on how important community assistance is to a law enforcement agency. Ride Alongs allow interns to ride along with a Deputy Sheriff to gain knowledge of patrol procedures and enforcement of traffic laws. Sessions Fall Session Application Dates: July 15 - August 15 Starts: Labor Day Week (16 weeks) ​ Spring Session Application Dates: November 15 - December 15 Starts: Third Week of January (16 weeks) ​ Summer Session Application Dates: April 15 - May 15 Starts: the Wednesday after Memorial Day (13 weeks) ​ How to Apply Applications to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Internship Program 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 our Community Relations Office: 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 samantha.graviano@suffolkcountyny.gov ​ ​

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

School 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. ​ Please use the Community Program Request Form to request this program. ​ ​

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

About the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Welcome to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office On January 1, 2018, Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. became Suffolk County, New York's 67th Sheriff and the County's first African American to be elected to a non-judicial countywide office. ​ Now serving his second term as Suffolk's highest-ranking law enforcement official, he continues to serve and protect the county's 1.5 million residents through innovative programs to reduce crime and recidivism, and by implementing sound fiscal policies. Read more about Sheriff Toulon Learn more about our Staff THE SUFFOLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Serving a population of over 1.5 million, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office works tirelessly to serve and protect our residents through innovative programs to reduce inmate recidivism, by promoting sound fiscal policies and by working cooperatively with law enforcement and community groups throughout the county to improve safety in our jails and our neighborhoods. ​ The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office also plays a significant role in patrolling our roadways; Deputy Sheriffs are out in force all year long throughout the county. Our innovative Mobile DWI Processing Unit helps us efficiently apprehend suspected drunk and impaired drivers, and has a deterrent effect on anyone contemplating driving while under the influence. The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office: Operates the two Suffolk County correctional facilities (in Yaphank and Riverhead), provides county courthouse security and detention. Is responsible for patrolling and investigating all crimes committed on the 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 Drug Recognition Experts (D.R.E.) and is funded by the STOP-DWI program. Issues pistol permits for the five East End towns of Suffolk County through its Pistol License Bureau. Has an 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. Has several specialized sections, including K-9, Marine Patrol, Dive Team, Mountain Bike Unit, ATV Unit, the Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (SERT), Honor Guard, Air Support Unit, Grants Bureau, tactical entry weapons team and sniper section. Is the Downstate New York Coordinator for Project Lifesaver International. Project Lifesaver is a Countywide Emergency Locator Service capable of finding those diagnosed with cognitive impairment (Alzheimer's Disease, 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. ​ Learn about the history of the Sheriff's Office CIVIL ENFORCEMENT PISTOL LICENSING PROGRAM REQUEST LOCATIONS

LIAM Safe Send Photos and Letters from Anywhere! The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office has partnered with LIAM Safe to make sending photos and letters to an inmate in the Suffolk County Correctional Facility a breeze! ​ THEN: You take some photos, have them printed at your local pharmacy, pick them up and pay for them, pack them up in an envelope, head to the Post Office, pay postage, and wait for a few days to see if your loved one has received the photos. ​ NOW: You take a photo, click this link or go to SuffolkCountyNY.Liamsafe.com, select the photo, pay and send. Your photo prints out at the correctional facility and is delivered to your loved one THAT DAY! No trips to the Post Office, postage, or packages lost in the mail! ​ LETTERS: Visit SuffolkCountyNY.LiamSafe.com and compose your letter. Make the payment and click send- it's that easy! No more going to the post office or delays in the mail. The letter gets delivered to your loved one THAT DAY! ​ Cost: $1.19 per photo; letters: $0.60 per page. ​ All rules regarding photos in the Correctional Facility apply. Inmates are limited to 15 photos. All extra photos will be placed in the inmate's property. All photos sent to the Correctional Facility are subject to review. No photos pornographic in nature will be delivered to an inmate.

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. ​ For more information on our Explorers Program, or to register your son or daughter, email Captain John Rung at John.Rung@suffolkcountyny.gov . ​ ​

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. To schedule a Shed the Meds event at your agency, please use the Program Request form and scroll down to select "Shed the Meds" under "Community Programs." 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. For more information, contact the Community Relations Bureau at 631-852-5611. ​ ​

Undersheriff Steven J. Kuehhas The son of a Suffolk County Correction Officer, Undersheriff Kuehhas began his career in law enforcement in 1986 when he joined the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. He prosecuted numerous serious felony cases including violent assaults, robberies, rapes and vehicular manslaughters, in addition to public corruption. From 1996 to 2016, Undersheriff Kuehhas was assigned as the East End Bureau Chief prosecuting crimes within the five eastern towns and villages of Suffolk County where he worked closely with numerous state and local police agencies. It was here that he prosecuted inmates who assaulted correction officers while being held in the correctional facility in Riverhead. After a rewarding career as a prosecutor and Bureau Chief, Undersheriff Kuehhas left the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office to become Undersheriff in the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Vincent DeMarco in July 2016. His duties include oversight of operations for both the professional, Corrections and Deputy Sheriff personnel. He is an adjunct professor of law and an active member of the Suffolk County and Criminal Bar Associations. He is an admitted attorney in New York, New Jersey and numerous federal jurisdictions, including the United States Supreme Court.