SHERIFF’S OFFICE NAMES JAIL’S LINEUP ROOM AFTER FORMER NYS COMMISSION OF CORRECTION CHAIR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 17, 2019 SHERIFF’S OFFICE NAMES JAIL’S LINEUP ROOM AFTER FORMER NYS COMMISSION OF CORRECTION CHAIR (Yaphank, NY) Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. presided over a ceremony on Tuesday, December 17, 2019, naming the Suffolk County Correctional Facility’s Yaphank Lineup Room the Alan Croce Lineup Room. Alan Croce is a long time resident of the East End of Long Island. Alan Croce was a former Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff Investigator Sergeant and, later, Undersheriff who was appointed Chair of the Commission of Correction by former Governor George Pataki in 1997. He served in that position for ten years and then served as the Commissioner for the New York State Board of Parole. Croce worked at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office for 35 years. In 1994, while Undersheriff, he was charged with implementing the first smoke-free correctional facility in New York State. The ceremony opened with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard presenting the colors and congratulatory speeches from Sheriff Toulon, Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo, and Undersheriff Steven Kuehhas. Sheriff Toulon remarked, “When we think about your contributions, not only to Suffolk County, but to the State of New York, it was only fitting that we find some way of recognizing and honoring you. Every Correction Officer at lineup and at every training that we have in this room going forward, people will forever ask, ‘Who was Alan Croce and what was he about?’ So know that we will always be forever thankful for what you have done for us.” Sheriff Toulon highlighted Alan Croce’s many accomplishments. During his tenure as Undersheriff in Suffolk County, Alan was integral in banning smoking in all county correctional facilities. An unpopular idea at the time, he persevered in this effort, citing the health benefits to both the staff as well as the inmates. He was also responsible for the push to increase the size of both correctional facilities in Suffolk County due to the increase in inmate population at the time. After a ceremonial ribbon cutting, Alan Croce stepped up to the microphone to express his gratitude. He was emotional, stating, “This, of course, is an honor that I never thought would ever come. Proud? That’s probably an understatement.” Alan also spoke about the Yaphank Facility and the job of a Correction Officer. “It’s not a jail- it’s a Correctional Facility. Back when I started, no one cared about corrections. I was a Deputy Sheriff, but as an Undersheriff in charge of corrections, I visited the facility every day and met with the officers. As the inmate count kept going up, I fought with the county to build this facility. It was about safety- the safety of the officers as well as the inmates. And that is the facility we stand in today.” “It’s an important room, with (Alan’s) name on it, because this is where the correction officers meet with their supervisors before they go on their tours,” said Undersheriff Kuehhas. “This is where the supervisors not only give the officers their assignments for the day, but also give them a heads up about any problems from the prior tour. This is very important information for the officers prior to going into the jail.” The ceremony ended with photographs, cake, and coffee.

Alan Croce speaks to the gathering.