FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE INMATE FACING MURDER CHARGES THROWS HUMAN WASTE ON CORRECTION OFFICER ***** Faces additional charges ***** (Riverhead, NY) An inmate in Suffolk County is facing additional charges after he propelled toilet water containing human waste at a Correction Officer. On November 22nd, 2019, Robert Dimitri, 27, of Coram, NY, an inmate currently being held at the Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead without bail for 2nd degree murder, scooped liquid containing human waste from his cell toilet using a milk carton and propelled the liquids at a Correction Officer who was passing by the cell conducting a security tour of the tier. The liquid hit the Correction Officer in his face, arm, and chest. Inmate Dimitri continued to threaten responding Correction staff and refused to follow orders and instructions. He barricaded himself in his cell behind his cell mattress and a blanket. Dimitri continued to be combative as he was removed from his cell, kicking and fighting with Correction Officers until he was restrained. Inmate Dimitri was seen by medical professionals and continues to be held at the Suffolk County Jail in Riverhead. Sheriff Toulon has zero tolerance for assaults on his staff and additional charges will be filed against this combative, violent inmate. ###

SHERIFF AND STAFF TO HAND OUT FROZEN TURKEYS AND DINNER BASKETS **MONDAY** (Riverhead, NY) On Monday, November 25, 2019, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. and members of the Sheriff’s Office will be handing out Thanksgiving turkeys and dinner baskets to local non-profit agencies and the Riverhead School District for families in need as a part of their 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. 62 frozen turkeys were donated for this effort by Church Unleashed in Commack. DATE/TIME: Monday, November 25, 2019, 12:00 p.m. LOCATION: Riverhead Correctional Facility 100 Center Drive S Riverhead, NY 11901 VISUALS: The Sheriff and staff will unloading the turkeys from a freezer truck and distributing baskets in the parking lot of the Riverhead Jail. About the Sheriff’s Thanksgiving Food Drive: For the second year in a row, the Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Sheriffs PBA and the Correction Officer’s Association gathered non-perishable food items to put together more than 60 baskets for families in need.

A Message from Sheriff Toulon about the Mass Shooting Today at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita, CA: Once again, on behalf of everyone at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, I want to send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to all of the children, families, school personnel and our fellow colleagues in law enforcement in the wake of yet another school shooting. I have offered my condolences so often in the past, but today, I would like to offer some thoughts on preventing these tragedies. First, I encourage everyone to read “PROTECTING AMERICA’S SCHOOLS: A U.S. SECRET SERVICE ANALYSIS OF TARGETED SCHOOL VIOLENCE.” https://www.secretservice.gov/data/protection/ntac/usss-analysis-of-targeted-school-violence.pdf There is no set profile of a mass shooter, and therefore prevention is the clearest way to stop these tragic shootings. How can we prevent this type of violence? School officials should be urged to utilize an evidenced-based THREAT ASSESSMENT and INTERVENTION tool to handle student disciplinary matters. School districts may also want to consider programs like Say Something offered through Sandy Hook Promise. Say Something teaches children and school personnel to be alert to troubling behaviors, to be “upstanders” and to talk to a trusted adult when they see something that concerns them. This simple and powerful methodology discourages bullying, and encourages people to seek help for emotional issues before they escalate. Deputy Sheriffs and Correction Officers are trained to teach Say Something and it is offered to all schools at no cost to the districts. Below is a synopsis of the findings in the Secret Service’s report. I ask that you consider these commonalities, and then teach your kids to say something if they notice a peer in distress. · There is no profile of a student attacker, nor is there a profile for the type of school that has been targeted · Attackers usually had multiple motives, the most common involving a grievance with classmates · Most attackers used firearms, and firearms were most often acquired from the home · Most attackers had experienced psychological, behavioral, or developmental symptoms · Half of the attackers had interests in violent topics · All attackers experienced social stressors involving their relationships with peers and/or romantic partners · Nearly every attacker experienced negative home life factors · Most attackers were victims of bullying, which was often observed by others · Most attackers had a history of school disciplinary actions, and many had prior contact with law enforcement ###

ROHAN MURPHY VISITS INMATES ***** Delivers Inspirational Message to Inmates in the Choose Your Path Program ***** (Riverhead, NY) On Thursday, November 14th, Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. welcomed Rohan Murphy to the Sheriff’s Office and the Riverhead Correctional Facility. Rohan is a nationally recognized motivational speaker, athlete, and wrestler from East Islip, NY, who lost his legs at birth. He started to wrestle in his freshman year of high school. After a successful high school wrestling career he went on to wrestle at Penn State University. In addition to wrestling, Rohan is also an accomplished powerlifter, representing the USA in international competitions all over the world. Rohan spoke with young adults in the Riverhead Jail about intrinsic motivation and overcoming adversity.

For Immediate Release: SHERIFF ERROL D. TOULON, JR. CREATES SHERIFF’S INTERFAITH COUNCIL ******** Leaders from Suffolk County Religious Organizations Working Together to Meet the Needs of Incarcerated Population Both In and Out of Jail ******** (Yaphank, NY) On Tuesday, October 15th, 2019, Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. hosted 10 leaders from various religious organizations throughout Suffolk County that will be forming the new Sheriff’s Interfaith Council. The Council talked about some of the issues our incarcerated population faces while inside our facilities as well as upon release, the services each church can offer the community, and how to aid local schools and youth in need. They finished the day with a tour of the Yaphank Correctional Facility. “We have assembled a diverse group of Suffolk County’s religious leaders to discuss what deficits exist in how we meet the needs of our incarcerated inmates and their families. I believe that working together with the Sheriff’s Office, we can all enhance the services each organization provides. Our goal is to serve the needs of the children and families of those incarcerated in the most efficient way possible.” ~ Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. The Sheriff’s Interfaith Council consists of: Deacon James McLaughlin, Diocese of Rockville Centre; Justin McMahon, St. Sylvester RC Church; Pastor Bert Crabbe, True North Community Church; Dr. Beresford Adams, First Baptist Church; Pastor Todd Bishop, Church Unleashed; Pastor Kara Bocchino, Axis Church; Pastor Gregory Wilk, Abundant Life Church of God; Pastor Jessica Baes, Real Life Church; Pastor Keith Indovino, Truth Community Church; Pastor Mike Jankowski, The Harbor Church; Rabbi Aaron Benson, North Shore Jewish Center; Dr. Yousuf U. Syed, Islamic Association of Long Island; Shahid Mian, Masjid Darul Quran. “The Interfaith Council meeting at Suffolk County Sheriff's office was highly appreciated by multifaith community leaders. Many important issues concerning the welfare of inmates were discussed. Connecting the inmate to steady employment was explored, which is the important issue for rehabilitating inmates. I was impressed by the dedication of the Sheriff and his dedicated staff to prisoner reform and their welfare.” ~ Yousuf U. Syed, M.D.MPH., Islamic Association of Long Island The Sheriff’s Interfaith Council will meet monthly to meet the needs of the children and family of Suffolk County’s inmate population.

SUFFOLK COUNTY ANNOUNCES INTERAGENCY SOAR INITIATIVE ***** Sharing Opioid Analysis Research ***** (Yaphank, NY) On Thursday, October 31st, County Executive Steve Bellone, along with Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr., Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart, and Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini, announced the formation of SOAR: Sharing Opioid Analysis Research. SOAR is an initiative to bring together governmental agencies around the opioid crisis here in Suffolk County. Each agency involved brings a unique and varied perspective on the issue. Meeting together on a quarterly basis will facilitate a shared, comprehensive understanding of local patterns, characteristics, and trends associated with opioid fatalities. At these quarterly meetings, agencies will share specific data regarding both fatal and non-fatal overdoses and identify gaps and areas where improvements can be made. The SOAR initiative is based on the model of RX Stat from NYPD. RX Stat is grounded in a public health framework, emphasizing the use of data as a measure of patterns and trends in the population and considering drug use as a health issue requiring a shared public health and safety response. The Suffolk County Department of Probation and the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner will round out the agencies involved in the SOAR initiative. ###

BATTLE OF THE BADGES Two Teams Played for One Cause ******** Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Boldest Hockey vs. Suffolk County Police Department Suffolk Blues ******** (Dix Hills, NY) On Saturday, October 26th, 2019, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Boldest Hockey took on the Suffolk County Police Department’s Suffolk Blues in a charity hockey game at Dix Hills Park Skating Rink in Dix Hills, NY. Boldest Hockey defeated the Suffolk Blues by a score of 2-1 in this Battle of the Badges to benefit one of their own. This ultimate charity showdown was played to benefit the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office’s own Michelle Mahler, a three time kidney transplant survivor who is now facing an even tougher battle- cancer. Michelle has been a Suffolk County employee for the past 19 years and the Sheriff’s Office Payroll Supervisor for the past 7 years. She believes that “10% of life is what happens to you and 90% is what you do about it!” Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr., said, “One thing we have realized is that both the men and women of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and the Suffolk County Police Department are one and together we will support our staff to fight any issues, personal or health related, that they are going through.” It was an amazing night filled with hockey, giveaways, and a performance by the Suffolk County Emerald Society Pipe Band. All proceeds were donated to the Mahler Family as they begin this difficult journey. But as Michelle stated that night, “I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me, I want them to feel sorry for the cancer- because I am going to kick butt!”

SHERIFF TOULON DEDICATES NEW K9 MEMORIAL ******* Joined by Former Commission of Correction Chair Alan Croce, Sheriff’s Office Administration, and K9 Representatives from Other Agencies ******* (Riverh ead, NY) The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office dedicated a new memorial to past and present K-9 Officers outside Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.’s office in Riverhead, today. He was joined by Undersheriff Kevin Catalina, Undersheriff Steven Kuehhas, Chief Deputy Michael Sharkey, and K-9 units from many different agencies, including Suffolk County Police, MTA Police, Town of Riverhead Police, Nassau County Police, DEC Police, and the SPCA. “This is a special day for us at the Sheriff’s Office and in Suffolk County,” said Sheriff Toulon, “because today we have the opportunity to honor and pay tribute to our K-9 Family in Law Enforcement with a monument dedicated to their service.” The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office has six K-9s- three Corrections K-9s and three Deputy K-9s. These K-9 units have been responsible for the recovery of extensive amounts of illegal narcotics -- and the proceeds as well. Over the years, our K-9 units have found missing persons, wanted felons, and recovered evidence from cases of assault, robberies and burglaries. Our Sheriff K-9 units also meet with many community programs around Suffolk County to discuss and demonstrate the role Police K-9s perform every day. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office’s K-9s also help keep our jails safe and assist with contraband seizures and arrests. Our four-legged K-9 team members help our Correction Officers carry out one of the county’s toughest jobs. A little about the monument: The granite used to create the monument is from the original material that made up the old Riverhead Jail that was torn down about 80 years ago. The granite had been thrown in the woods in the highway department yard and was recovered about 15 years ago. This is the same batch of stone that was used to create the monument in the front of the building dedicated to the county’s deputy sheriffs and correction officers who died in service. Other than the reclaimed granite, all of the materials used to create this monument were purchased using asset forfeiture funds at no cost to Suffolk County.

(Moriches, NY) Suffolk County Correction Officers teaching the GREAT Program at William Floyd Middle School were first on the scene of a school bus fire at dismissal on Wednesday. C/O Christopher Delaney and C/O Brian Arce were at the school teaching the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T.) Program when the bus caught fire before students were dismissed. They secured the scene and directed traffic as more buses and parents arrived to pick up students at the end of the day. As the bus became fully engulfed in flames, Suffolk County Police Officers and the Center Moriches Fire Department responded to put out the fire. No students, staff, or first responders were injured. For more information, please contact Sgt. Paul Spinella at (631) 852-3405 or Paul.Spinella@suffolkcountyny.gov.

(Yaphank, NY) Douglas Grimmett, a 12-year-old cancer survivor from Eastport, NY, and son of NYPD Scuba Sergeant Adam Grimmett, will become “Suffolk County Sheriff For A Day” in a ceremony with Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr., who is also a two-time cancer survivor. The event will be held on Tuesday, September 24th, beginning at 11:00 a.m., at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, located at 100 Center Drive in Riverhead, NY. Douglas will participate in a series of activities with members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, including a ride along in a patrol car, a visit in the land/sea marine unit and a walk around with the K-9 unit. Douglas and his 10-year-old brother, Ben, will also receive a shirt and honorary badge for the occasion. Douglas was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in May 2013 and underwent successful chemotherapy treatment. His last chemotherapy was in 2016 and he has been deemed “cancer free” by doctors. The dream-come-true experience comes during Blood Cancer Awareness Month (September) and is being made possible by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, located in Melville, NY, as part of their “Random Acts of Light” Program. Douglas was chosen as the annual Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Boy of the Year” in 2015, which honors children whose cancer journey has been inspiring to others. Douglas and his family also intend to participate in the annual LLS “Light The Night” walk in October 2019 in Eisenhower Park. Douglas and his family, Sheriff Toulon, and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society representatives will be available for interviews, photos and video ops of Douglas with the Sheriff’s K-9 dog and while riding in the Sheriff’s patrol car. Follow LLS on Facebook & Instagram. WHEN: Tuesday, September 24 @ 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. LOCATION: 100 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY

SUFFOLK COUNTY, Long Island (WABC) -- Suffolk County's highest ranking law enforcement official is Sheriff Errol Toulon. This First Responder Friday shout out is to his efforts with 9,000 students and the Sandy Hook Promise School Safety Initiative "Start with Hello" which teaches social inclusion. Thank you for your example, and good luck judging the 1,800 coloring contest entries. Winners will be announced this week with three grand prize winners! Sheriff Toulon is also a cancer survivor who has dedicated almost a quarter of a century to law enforcement. Thank you for your service.

(Rocky Point, NY) On Friday, September 13, 2019, Rocky Point High School will be holding a memorial ceremony honoring those brave men and women lost in the 9/11 attacks 18 years ago. This annual event is held by the High School to honor the four lost graduates of the Rocky Point School District, Rocky Point’s First Responders and Rescue Workers, and the Veterans from the War on Terror. Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. will be speaking to students. Other speakers include Lila Nordstrom, a child in lower Manhattan on 9/11/01, Members of the Feal Good Foundation, and Anthony Flammia from Rocky Point VFW Post 6249. This event has been organized since 2006 by Rocky Point High School teacher Rich Acritelli, former head of the Diamond in the Pines 9/11/01 Memorial in Coram. “The big thing is to always remember 9/11/01. It just can’t be another day.” DATE/TIME: Friday, September 13th, 2019 at 7:30 AM. LOCATION: Rocky Point High School 82 Rocky Point-Yaphank Road Rocky Point, NY 11778 ADDITIONAL: The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard will present the colors at the ceremony.