| Suffolk County Sheriff's Office | |
| Abbreviation | SCSO |
| Patch of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. | |
| Seal of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office | |
| Badge of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1683 |
| Employees | 1255 |
| Legal personality | Governmental: Government agency |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction* | County (US) of Suffolk in the state of 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 |
|
| Operational structure | |
| Headquarters | Riverhead, New York |
| Deputy Sheriffs Correction Officers | 270 841 |
| Civilians | 130 |
| Agency executives |
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| Facilities | |
| Jails | 3 |
| Patrol Boats | 4 |
| Canines | 4 |
| Website | |
| Official Site | |
| Footnotes | |
| * Divisional agency: Division of the country, over which the agency has usual operational jurisdiction. | |
The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office is the oldest law enforcement agency in Suffolk County, New York. The sheriff's office currently employs approximately 1200 people, including 841 correction officers, 247 deputy sheriffs, and 130 civilian personnel.[1] Its 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 elected to the term of four years.[2]
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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.
The Sheriff's Office:
Celebrating its 327th year of service to Suffolk County.
The Sheriff's Office participates in various task forces, such as the East End Drug Task Force, and the specially created joint task force with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to investigate and arrest illegal immigrant gang members, the Drug Enforcement Agency, High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, and the United States Marshals Service, undercover assignments, and also conduct criminal investigations.
The Sheriff's Office also issues take-home cars to its deputies. Aside from their service weapons, deputies are assigned rifles and various non-lethal weapons, such as tasers, pepper spray, and expandable batons.
The SCSO formerly had an Undersheriff for Corrections and an Undersheriff for Law Enforcement. Sheriff DeMarco changed that practice by appointing an undersheriff as his number two man in the department and a second undersheriff subordinate to the first. There are also two wardens; a one star Warden and two star Warden. The one star Warden subordinate to the other.
| Title | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Sheriff Vincent F. DeMarco | |
| Undersheriff John P. Meyerricks | |
| Undersheriff Joseph T. Caracappa | |
| Chief Deputy Sheriff/Chief of Staff/Warden | |
| Warden | |
| Deputy Warden | |
| Captain/Investigator Captain | |
| Lieutenant/Investigator Lieutenant | |
| Sergeant/Investigator Sergeant | Deputy Corrections |
| Deputy Sheriff/Correction Officer
Deputy Sheriff Investigator/Correction Officer Investigator |
There have been many sheriffs through 325 years of service.[3]
| Sheriff | Start of term | Sheriff | Start of term | Sheriff | Start of term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josiah Hobart | 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 |
Since the establishment of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office, four officers have died in the line of duty.[4]
| Officer | Date of Death | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy Sheriff William Henry Rafford |
|
Gunfire |
| Deputy Sheriff George A. Stillwell |
|
Gunfire |
| Deputy Sheriff Harold E. Vanderoef Jr. |
|
Struck by vehicle |
| Correction Officer Andrew Paul Reister |
|
Assault |
The Sheriff's Office presents a number of medals to its members for meritorious service.
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.
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 adversry, at imminent personal hazard of live, in the intelligent performance of duty.
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 intlligently performed, involving personal risk of life, or involvining grave personal danger.
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 adversry, at imminent personal hazard of live, in the intelligent performance of duty.
A silver medal and a white-blue-white bar (inscription "BRAVERY"). The Bravery Silver Medal may be awarded for an act of personal bravery intlligently 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 (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.
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 (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.
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.
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 ceritified 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 (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.
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 (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.
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.