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newyork

News 12 Staff

LIPP223B_2025-02-23-12-30-34

Welcome back to Power and Politics. The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office is increasing its ranks. What will we always be? Oh. A graduation ceremony was held in Selden to welcome 46 new corrections officers to the workforce. I'm excited to begin my career. The academy prepared me tremendously to put the right foot forward and get started in this career path. The recruits underwent a 16 week training program where they learned about all different aspects of the field from defense tactics to legal issues and back with us now is the Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon. That must have been a good moment there, Sheriff. You know it's a very proud moment whenever you have a graduation, especially, you know, we definitely need the numbers in 46. More, uh, men and women into the sheriff's office is a great opportunity for all of them. So you're like so many other law enforcement departments across the country right now dealing with difficulties in recruiting. Why do you think that is? Uh, it seemed like it started in 2020. We first we dealt with bail reform, then COVID, and then after George Floyd was tragically killed, uh, it just seemed like there was less of an interest of individuals joining, uh, law enforcement ranks. And so what can you do to uh interest people who maybe are on the fence thinking about this and for one reason or the other have decided I'm not gonna take the test I don't know if I wanna do this after all. You know it's a great way for you to protect and serve your community. Many people have, uh, you know, different varying views. Of law enforcement and if you want to change those views then join our ranks and and be someone positive, be a good role model for young children in our community and really when you're looking at someone that wants to protect and serve, you know, there's no greater, uh, no greater, uh, I guess enthusiasm except for me for who's been in law enforcement now 43 years, uh, to really serve our community. You mentioned some of the issues that have led to difficulty in recruiting, but I would think some of those overlap. In terms of morale for your staff right now and, and navigating these tough times that we've gone through over the past 5-10 years, um, how would you describe the mental health status of law enforcement as a whole right now? You know, with the younger younger generation of officers coming on who are, uh, have been affected adversely by COVID. Uh, are used to sometimes their mobile devices and you know that inter interpersonal communication that's may not be there are challenges that we're faced with, uh, with these young men and women, but I, I can tell you, you know, we try to go out to the communities we want individuals to see what the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office is about. So hopefully men and women do want to join our ranks. What's your message to someone who's thinking about it but maybe needs a little bit more encouragement to to consider it as a career? Call me and I'll be happy to talk to you about being a member whether it's a correction officer, a deputy sheriff, or even part of our professional staff. OK, let's talk about the laws here in New York. You mentioned bail reform. We know Suffolk District attorney Ray Tierney has been, uh, traveling to Albany. Trying to urge lawmakers to consider further changes on a whole host of issues. uh, how would you describe the laws right now as it relates to your job, the job of deputy sheriffs, uh, in, in terms of enforcing the law? You know, it makes our job not only more difficult but sometimes a little bit apprehensive, uh, which we do not want our staff to have when they're going after someone that just committed a crime. You know, we want to make sure that, uh, they will be prosecuted, anyone that's arrested, you know, to the fullest extent of the law and sometimes when someone is released a few hours after they've committed a crime. Uh, it is very discouraging sometimes, but we have to accept the laws the way they are right now. Uh, we have to continue to do our job vigilantly vigilantly and make sure that we are, um, keeping our community safe, as difficult as some of these laws may be for all of us to accept. Sometimes we hear about repeat offenders which always gets people up in arms and rightfully so if someone has been released and immediately commits a similar type of crime. Uh, if someone is in the sheriff's department custody, are there programs in place to help some people? Obviously not gonna help everyone change their ways, but can help some people, uh, find a new course. Yes, we have many programs like small engine repair, carpentry, landscaping. Uh, HVAC plumbing, solar, uh, programs that are more transferable skills. So when they return back to the community, 85% of the men and women in Yaphank and Riverhead are returning back to our community where 15% will be going to a state prison. So you're never going to know if someone in front of you or behind you in a supermarket or some store was recently released. So we wanna work on those individuals and just, you know, very quickly. Uh, the national average for recidivism is 60%, 40% for New York State, yet those that participate in our start resource program is between 17 to 20%, so we have a greater rate of recidivism, uh, than the national or state average. Wow, OK, let's talk about, um, a person who's in your custody right now who obviously has become a national figure that is Rex Yerman. What can you tell us about Rex? Human right now as he awaits trial, you know, as he awaits trial, uh, he's extremely compliant in our jails. Uh, we do not have any issues with him. Uh, we don't expect any issues with him and we're just going to wait to see how the courts, uh, play out, uh, as far as his case, uh, or cases as I should say, and we expect, uh, no issues from him like we don't with any other individual in our custody. How does he spend his time? Uh, he spends his time in his cell. He does go to recreation. He will go, uh, to law library. He may review. Uh, he has an opportunity to review, uh, all of the discovery materials in his, uh, regarding his case. So, you know, it's just like any other person that's incarcerated, he's allowed to make phone calls, uh, have visits. So, um, there's nothing different with him other than the fact. Of the cases that's uh surrounding him, is it uh difficult for your staff to treat him as any other person who would be in custody? I think the, the security measures that we've taken to ensure not only his safety because you know we don't want any justice being taken out in our jails we want it served in the courts. So more importantly, just, uh, when he moves throughout the facility we. We'll stop all inmate movement, uh, just in case there's someone that, uh, was a trafficker, uh, someone that may have known any of the victims, or someone that may even just want to increase their own street credibility by saying they assaulted Rex Human, uh, we wanna avoid that. Very interesting point, Sheriff Errol Toulon, always good to see you. Thanks for coming in. Thank you, sir. Our power and politics program continues here on News 12 right after this.

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LIPP223C_2025-02-23-12-31-18

Welcome back. Let's get to some of our top stories this week. The future of congestion pricing is still very much uncertain. The MTA has filed an appeal to challenge the Trump administration's decision to scrap the plan. Governor Hokle sent a strong message to President Trump after his administration moved to end the program. New York hasn't labored under a king in over 250 years. We sure as hell are not gonna start now. So Hogle says the plan will stay in place. She says it's helped more New Yorkers than hurt them. In a letter to the governor, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, though, said the administration will end the program because it provides no toll-free option for many drivers and said the plan mainly raises revenue from the NTA above all else. If in some world that they are successful. The next time you're stuck in traffic. The next time your train is delayed, the next time you're in a flooded station because infrastructure repairs were not made. I want you to think of this. Think about this next time you're stuck in traffic. That was a picture of the president posted on social media. Meanwhile, the move being celebrated in the town of Hempstead, supervisor Don Clavi says the town's lawsuit against the MTA was specifically mentioned in the termination letter issued by the feds. They also blasted the governor for leaving the tolling cameras in place until a federal judge makes an official ruling. Medical Research is one of the great things we do, and we're all living longer and better and healthier, and some people who wouldn't be alive or alive today because of the work done at these labs, and we want to cut it and call it waste. How mindless. That's Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressing concerns over Long Island medical research facilities due to President Trump's decision to make cuts to federal agencies, including at the National Institutes of Health. He says $50 million could be pulled from facilities on the island like Cold Spring Harbor Labs, Stony Brook University, and others. Schumer is now calling on. Local GOP lawmakers to speak out against it, claiming the cuts will create devastating setbacks in researching certain diseases and concerns over those cuts don't end there. Hundreds of protesters also gathered in Montauk and in front of Congressman Nick Lalota's office in Hohog asking him to hold the town hall to address the issue. Congressional members are not required to hold town halls, but protesters say they feel it's the best way to advocate in person. I will say in a governmental level on spending issues we're a nation that's $36 trillion in debt with a $2 trillion deficit. I hope the question starts and we have to cut some spending. The congressman says he has an open door policy for all constituents. That's all the time we have this week. We'll see you again right here next week for another edition of New Soul's Power and Politics. I'm Rich Verrabi. Have a great rest of your day.

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Sheriff Toulon Jr. discusses a wide range of issues, including a crackdown on human trafficking and the renewed focus on immigration enforcement. 

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Power & Politics: 1:1 with Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr.

Sheriff Toulon Jr. discusses a wide range of issues, including a crackdown on human trafficking and the renewed focus on immigration enforcement.

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