Suffolk County Sheriff Foundation’s Inside-Out Initiative funds Suffolk County Sheriff Office’s 14th annual gang conference
500 law enforcement professionals nationwide learn about transformation of street gangs
Melville, NY (Oct. 26, 2022) – In an effort to educate nearly 500 law enforcement professionals from around the country about the transformation of street gangs, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office held its 14th annual gang conference at the Hilton Long Island in Melville, New York on October 26th and 27th.
The conference was funded by the Suffolk County Sheriff Foundation’s Inside-Out Initiative, which provides funding for critical continuing staff education and training that will help improve public safety, foster greater accountability and develop culturally responsive policing.
The Suffolk County Sheriff 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.
Law enforcement professionals at the gang conference heard from two speakers about the state of gangs and current crime topics including unserialized firearms also known as “ghost guns”, human trafficking, and auto thefts.
Speakers included El Salvador Minister of Justice Hector Gustavo Villatoro Funes, human trafficking survivor Rebekah Charleston, City of Baltimore Human Trafficking Coordinator Tom Stack, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison.
“It is my pleasure to hold this conference each year to bring together law enforcement agencies from across the nation to collaborate on our shared mission to suppress gang and criminal activity in our neighborhoods,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr.
With more than three centuries of continuous service, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office is the oldest law enforcement agency 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.
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.
Photo #1(l to r) – Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney, Suffolk Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. , El Salvador Minister of Jusitce LIC. Hector Gustavo Villatoro Funes and Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison.
Photo #2 (l to r) – Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney, Suffolk Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. and Suffolk Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison.
