Suffolk County Sheriff's Office


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 1200 people, including 898 correction officers, 288 deputy sheriffs, and 130 civilian personnel. Its Office and Business Operations are located at the Riverhead Correctional Facility, 100 Center Drive South in Riverhead.
The Sheriff of Suffolk County is the highest ranking Law Enforcement Officer in Suffolk County and is elected to the term of four years. In 2012, the Sheriff's Office became a New York State Accredited Law Enforcement Agency.

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. 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.
The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office:
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 words 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 CORRECTIONAL OFFICER and seven point star.

Service weapons

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.
TitleInsignia
Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.
Undersheriff Steven Kuehhas
Undersheriff Kevin Catalina
Chief Deputy Sheriff/Chief of Staff/Warden
Warden
Deputy Warden
Captain/Investigator Captain
Lieutenant/Investigator Lieutenant
Sergeant/Investigator SergeantDeputy Corrections
Deputy Sheriff/Correction Officer
Deputy Sheriff Investigator/Correction Officer Investigator

List of Sheriffs

There have been many Sheriffs through 332 years of service.
SheriffStart of termSheriffStart of termSheriffStart of term
Josiah Hobbert1683Abraham Gardiner1821Henry Preston1903
John Mulford1701Samuel Smith1826John Wells1906
Hugh Gray1702Abraham Gardiner1829Charles Platt1909
John Brush1710Richard Smith1832Melville Brush1912
Daniel Youngs1718Silas Horton1835D. Henry Brown1913
Samuel Dayton1723Samuel Miller1838Charles O'Dell1914
William Sell1728David Brush1841Amza Biggs1917
Joseph Smith1730Henry Penny1844John Kelly1920
David Corrie1731David Rose1847Amza Biggs1923
Jacob Conklin1734John Clark1850Burton Howe1926
Thomas Higbe1740Samuel Phillips1855Ellis Taylor1929
James Muirson1774George Carman1856Joseph Warta1932
Thomas Wickes1785Stephen Wilson1859William McCollom1935
Silas Halsey1787Daniel Osborn1862Jacob Dreyer1938
Thomas Wickes1791George Smith1868John Levy1941
Phinaes Carll1799J. Henry Perkins1871William McCollom1942
Josiah Reeve1803Egbert Lewis1874Charles Dominy1957
Phinaes Smith1807George Cooper1877Frank Gross1962
Josiah Reeve1808Robert Petty1888Philip Corso1970
Benjamin Brewster1810Selah Brewster1883Donald Dilworth1976
Josiah Reeve1811Henry Halsey1886John Finnerty1977
Benjamin Brewster1812Robert Petty1888Eugene Dooley1986
Josiah Reeve1813A. M. Darling1891Patrick Mahoney1990
Nathaniel Conklin1814Benjamin Wood1897Alfred C. Tisch2002
Josiah Reeve1815J. Sheridan Wells1900Vincent F. DeMarco2006
Samuel Carll1819Errol D. Toulon, Jr.2018

Line of duty deaths

Since the establishment of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, three Deputy Sheriffs have been killed in the line of duty.
OfficerDate of DeathDetails
Wednesday, December 16, 1903Gunfire
Friday, August 10, 1906Gunfire
Thursday, June 4, 1987Struck by vehicle
Saturday, August 9, 2008Bar Fight

SCSO awards, commendations, citations and medals

The Sheriff's Office presents a number of medals to its members for meritorious service.
A gold medal and a blue and gold bar. 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.
A gold medal and a blue-red-blue bar. 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 adversry, at imminent personal hazard of live, in the intelligent performance of duty.
A gold medal and a red-blue-red bar. 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.
A silver medal and a blue-white-blue bar. The Combat Silver Medal may be awarded for the successful performance of an act of heroism while engaged in personal combat with an armed adversry, at imminent personal hazard of live, in the intelligent performance of duty.
A silver medal and a white-blue-white bar. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A blue and gray breast bar. Awarded to a Deputy Sheriff who has affected five or more, as indicated by the numeral, arrests for DWI.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A red, white, blue and gold breast bar. 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.
A blue breast bar. Awarded to each Sworn Officer of the Sheriff's Officer who was assigned to the TWA crash site in July 1996.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A gold-red-gold breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who has completed the appropriate number of years of service.
A blue breast bar with 12 gold stars. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a military veteran.
Air Force - A light blue breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Air Force.
Army - A black breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Army.
Coast Guard - A blue breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard.
Marine Corps - A red breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.
Navy - A blue breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer who is a veteran of the United States Navy.
A gold breast bar. Awarded to a Sworn Officer for attaining a level of proficiency with the service firearm.