Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office unveils palm cards to assist
local law enforcement with deaf and hearing-impaired motorists
ISLIP, NY (Nov. 9, 2022) – In an effort to be more inclusive of the deaf and hard of hearing community, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office announced the creation and distribution of palm cards which include photos, drawings, and labels to better aid communication between law enforcement officers and deaf or hard of hearing motorists during traffic stops.
The cards include photos of things an officer would need from a motorist including driver’s license, car insurance cards and registration papers; items that a deaf or hard of hearing person needs such as gas, a tow truck or a hospital; and violations that officers would need to inform motorists of including running a stop sign, speeding, no seatbelt or failure to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk.
“We want to address different issues that are specific to our community and to our residents and what they’re facing every single day,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr.
“With nearly 40,000 Suffolk County residents who are deaf or hard of hearing, these cards will now be a lifeline to people who need them. We are the first in Suffolk County to have developed these cards so we hope that other law enforcement partners will adopt them also so they can have proper communication with the deaf and hearing-impaired community,” Toulon said.
With more than three centuries of continuous service, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is the oldest law enforcement in Suffolk County, N.Y., and has become known as one of the most innovative law enforcement agencies and correctional systems in the country.
The philosophy and approach of Toulon was the impetus for the birth of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Foundation in 2020. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office combines its work with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Foundation to build a stronger community.
The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Foundation’s mission is to support community-based programming to reduce incidents of crime and recidivism, improve outcomes for at-risk individuals, and build positive relationships with members of law enforcement.
Toulon notes that the greatest opportunity for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Foundation is to have a positive impact on the community — especially its youth.
