Meet The Candidates: Errol Toulon For Suffolk County Sheriff

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County residents will be heading to the polls on Tuesday, November 2, to elect local representatives and make their voices heard.

In addition to local town and village races, residents will weigh in on the race for Suffolk County Sheriff.

In advance of the election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaign — and the results will be published as candidate profiles in the days leading up to the vote.

Incumbent Errol Toulon, 59, of Lake Grove is running on the Democratic and Conservative lines against challenger and Republican William Amato for the Suffolk County Sheriff's seat.

Following is Patch's full Q&A with Errol Toulon:

<b> Name <b>

Errol Toulon

<b>Age (as of Election Day)</b>

59

<b>Position Sought</b>

Suffolk County Sheriff

<b>Family</b>

Wife and two children.

<b>Education</b>

Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Monroe College; a master’s in business administration and a doctorate in educational administration, both from Dowling College; and an advance certificate in Homeland Security Management from Long Island University;

<b>Occupation</b>

Suffolk County Sheriff

<b>Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office</b>

Assistant Deputy County Executive for Public Safety under the administration of County Executive Steve Bellone

<b>Campaign website</b>

ErrolToulon.com

<b>Why are you seeking elective office?</b>

I want to continue the work I've accomplished since taking office in 2018.

<b>The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.</b>

My biggest concern is increasing crime in Suffolk County.

<b>Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.</b>

With 30 years of law enforcement experience, I’ve learned that succeeding as sheriff requires putting politics aside and getting the job done — that’s why I’ve earned the endorsement of the Suffolk County Law Enforcement Coalition.

Those 30 years of experience mean I’ve served long enough to see what works and what doesn’t. I spent 25 years working on Rikers Island in roles ranging from correction officer to deputy commissioner. I specialized in training thousands of officers in the latest gang prevention techniques.

As your sheriff, I have, and will continue to, crack down on violent gangs, like MS-13, to keep gang members behind bars and off our streets. But we can’t stop there. To make Suffolk safer, I’ve pushed to invest in new ways to prevent young people from joining gangs in the first place. We implemented more mentoring and educational programs in Suffolk’s jails, and pushed for more tutoring and after-school programs for at-risk youth.

At the same time, my office has invested more in community-based, anti-crime programs, and better officer training on how to de-escalate situations before they become violent. Safety and reform must go hand-in-hand because reckless reform makes us more vulnerable. I strongly oppose defunding the police, and I oppose the Albany bail legislation that releases potential criminals back onto our streets. Suffolk is safer when our officers have the backing and the resources they need to do their jobs. As a lifelong law enforcement professional, I’m proud to be endorsed by every law enforcement organization in Suffolk County. But I’m even prouder of the trust that Suffolk residents place in me each day to keep them safe.