Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr. on Monday announced he intends to create a community advisory board to give residents a direct line of communication and representation to his department. Members will discuss relevant topics with the sheriff and provide input on initiatives and policies.
"Ultimately, I want the public to have more opportunities to interact with the law enforcement community," Sheriff Toulon said in an announcement. "Current events have demonstrated that people from all racial and ethnic backgrounds are frustrated with law enforcement, and they have some legitimate reasons to feel this way. I am looking for a diverse group of people to discuss issues, learn about the sheriff's office, and share ideas."
One person from each of Suffolk County's 10 townships, including the five East End towns, will be selected to serve a one-year term. Participants must be 18 years or older. Meetings will be bimonthly in the evenings at the Yaphank Correctional Facility and other locations, as well as remotely. People may submit letters of interest by email to [email protected].
When asked on Monday if the Suffolk County Police Department will be creating a similar advisory entity, County Executive Steve Bellone said he was not certain at the time, as he had not yet seen the sheriff's announcement.