Owen Durney Owen Durney serves as the Assistant Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office where he is the liaison between the Sheriff’s Office and elected officials and agencies on the federal, state and local levels of government. Prior to joining the Sheriff’s Office in February 2023, Owen worked in the Suffolk County Department of Health Services for 20 years where he performed various healthcare administration functions focused on strategic planning, community program service delivery, budgeting and finance. In 2022 Owen was the Continuous Improvement Analyst for the Health Department where he worked on the coordination, execution and implementation of the County Executive’s Office Continuous Improvement Program. Owen earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany. In 2008 he earned his master’s degree in Public Administration from Long Island University, C.W. Post (currently LIU Post) where he has been an Adjunct Professor of Health Care and Public Administration since 2011.

Undersheriff Kevin T. Catalina Kevin T. Catalina is an Undersheriff at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office in New York where he is responsible for all intelligence operations, Deputy Sheriff commands, and the Training Academy. Undersheriff Catalina is well-known for his expertise in anti-gang violence strategies, gang suppression and counter-terrorism operations and has lectured internationally on terrorism and site-security subject matter. Prior to joining the Administration of Sheriff Errol Toulon in August 2018, Catalina served as Deputy Chief and Commanding Officer of the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Intelligence Bureau, Operational and Analytical Section. Throughout his 26-year career at the NYPD, Kevin Catalina held a range of positions related to counterterrorist operations and investigations, logistical planning and site security. As the Commanding Officer of the NYPD Gang Division from 2014-2016, he developed and implemented all gang investigative and suppression strategies utilized throughout the City of New York. He is recognized as a subject-matter expert in gang violence and crime reduction strategies, and pioneered an initiative in the South Bronx that resulted in a 40% reduction in shooting incidents. He received a Bachelor of Arts in History from SUNY Oneonta and a Certificate in Police Management from Columbia University’s Police Management Institute.

Community Advisory Board Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr. is seeking additional interested Suffolk County residents to join the newly established Law Enforcement Community Advisory Board. This initiative builds on the success of the former Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Community Advisory Board, expanding its scope through collaboration with the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and the Suffolk County Police Department. All interested residents must submit letters of inquiry and resumes to be considered for Board Membership. The Law Enforcement Community Advisory Board meets in person at rotating venues across Suffolk County, addressing various topics relevant to law enforcement and community relations. These meetings provide residents an opportunity to engage directly with the Sheriff, his staff, and representatives from partner organizations, serve as a conduit for information to local communities, and offer input on initiatives and policies that strengthen partnerships between law enforcement and the public. Anyone interested in serving on the Board is encouraged to send a letter of inquiry and resume directly to Sheriff Toulon at Suffolk_Sheriff@suffolkcountyny.gov . Letters and resumes are accepted each September. Include in your letter of inquiry: Why do you want to serve on the Community Advisory Board? In what town do you live? - In what community groups are you involved? - Please include your resume and any other relevant information. Prospective members must be Suffolk County residents and 18 and older.

Learn more about the importance of correctional programming at the Suffolk County Correctional Facilities. Correctional Programming Special Programs for County Inmates The Suffolk County Correctional Facility is well known for its rehabilitation programming. Under Sheriff Toulon's leadership, the jail has become a place where the word corrections means more than just providing secure housing, it's a place where people have opportunities to rebuild their lives, change their thinking, and obtain support. Correctional Counselors are on staff to meet with inmates during their first week at the jail. During these meetings, Correctional Counselors survey an inmate's needs and discuss future goals. Based on these initial discussions, inmates are enrolled in services and programs that will aid in their rehabilitation. Rehabilitation takes many forms. In some cases, county inmates are placed in special programmatic housing areas listed below. In other cases, they will have opportunities to enroll in vocational training, work programs, and attend meeting with groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and many others. Programs like Council for Unity address gang-related issues, the Long Island Council for Drug and Alcoholism works with those addicted to a range of substances, and the Fatherhood Initiative provides classes in parenting and reconnecting with family. Upon entry to the Suffolk County Correctional Facility, inmates will be encouraged to participate in programs, and engage in re-entry counseling, which starts inside the jail and doesn't even end upon release. Our S.T.A.R.T. Resource Center on the grounds of the Yaphank Jail is a place where former inmates can receive ongoing assistance from the time they are released. Programmatic Housing Areas Choose Your Path is a programmatic housing area for incarcerated young adults between the ages of 18-25. It offers youth a robust selection of vocational training, schooling, counseling, pre-release and post-release transitional services, and mental health support. All of the inmates work a 40-hour work week doing a combination of programs and work assignments inside the jail. Correction Officers assigned to Choose Your Path received special training to work with young adults and a Correctional Counselor oversees the program. Choose to Thrive is a programmatic housing area for female inmates at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility. The program features a variety of supportive services, mental health services, vocational training, parenting and family reunification, and frequent visits from outside agencies that specialize in transitioning women from incarceration to the community. The initiative is overseen by a Correctional Counselor. The Sheriff’s Addiction Treatment Program (SATP) is an intensive substance abuse treatment initiative designed for incarcerated individuals with a range of criminal charges, all of which correlate to their substance use disorders. Participants in the program can either be sentenced or un-sentenced, but in either case, they must have a minimum of thirty days left in-custody to enter the program. Length of stay in the program varies, but it is guided largely by the individual’s progress. The program is designed around three basic educational phases. The SATP is staffed with Social Workers and Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASACs) who provide both group and individual treatment sessions. Correction Officers are specifically dedicated to the treatment dorms and these officers are part of the treatment team. The Human Trafficking Unit is staffed by three correction officers that work along with other jail personnel, outside federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, and human service providers to identify victims of human trafficking and human traffickers. These officers use a variety of methods to identify possible trafficking victims as they enter the correctional facility, conduct interviews -- and train other staff to detect and report signs of trafficking. They are also making program/legal referrals, and pulling together outside resources with the goal of helping to provide incarcerated victims of human trafficking the tools to transition to a safer environment upon discharge. Since its inception in 2018, this initiative has led to the successful prosecution of numerous human trafficking and other criminal networks, while helping the victims to reclaim their lives. The Veterans and Senior Program POD at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility offers specialized services at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility geared towards older inmates, as well as veterans of the armed forces. The program includes case management and visits from human service providers that specialize in working with older inmates, as well as veterans. The Suffolk County Correctional Facility has partnered with the Northport VA and the Veterans of Foreign Wars to help veterans transition from jail to the community.

Nationwide, the statistics on child safety seats are startling. Up to 72 percent of the child safety seats in cars on the road have serious defects or are improperly installed. Protecting your precious cargo is your priority and we're here to help! Specially trained officers from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office are available to attend community forums and event to perform child car seat safety checks. Car seat checks take approximately 20 minutes per vehicle and should be booked in advance prior to your event. Please use the Community Program Request Form to request this program. Child Car Seat Safety Checks Nationwide, the statistics on child safety seats are startling. Up to 72 percent of the child safety seats in cars on the road have serious defects or are improperly installed. Protecting your precious cargo is your priority and we're here to help! Specially trained officers from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office are available to attend community forums and event to perform child car seat safety checks. Car seat checks take approximately 20 minutes per vehicle and should be booked in advance prior to your event. Please use the Community Program Request Form to request this program.

Learn more about Income Execution and Wage Garnishment enforced by the Civil Enforcement Bureau at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. Income Execution | Wage Garnishment An income execution is a type of levy that may be issued against your wages if you fail to resolve your tax debt. It is a legal order that requires you or your employer to pay a portion of your gross wages for taxes you owe from your paycheck/salary. Issued by the NYS Courts, New York State will ask you to voluntarily pay up to 10% of your gross wages each time you're paid. If you don’t make voluntary payments, they will have your employer automatically deduct up to 10% of your gross wages from your paycheck and send it to us. The income execution remains in effect until the outstanding tax liability is satisfied. If you fail to resolve your tax debt, New York State may proceed with collection action by issuing an income execution. They may file a tax warrant before or after we issue the income execution. First, they will send the income execution to the address on file for you (click here to change your address & update your personal information if needed.) Generally, to comply with the income execution, you must: You are required to make the first payment within 20 days of receiving the notice. By law, wage deductions can't exceed ten percent: (10%) of gross income, or twenty five percent (25%) of disposable earnings. You must make payments each time you get paid, whether that's weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc. If you don't pay the required amount, your employer must deduct the money from your wages. How to remove an income execution: Pay the bill in full. For more information on income execution and wage garnishments, please visit the New York State Website. For driving directions to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Civil Enforcement Bureau, click here. New York State Website

Investigator Captain Christopher Guercio Deputy Sheriff Captain Christopher Guercio is the Commanding Officer of the Sheriff’s Office Enforcement Bureau which provides the services of civil enforcement and patrol of Gabreski Airport. In addition, Captain Guercio is the Commanding Officer of the Grants Bureau, the Quartermaster Bureau, and numerous community and department programs. Captain Guercio is a 26 year member of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. He joined the Sheriff’s Office in June of 1994. Captain Guercio began his career assigned to First District Court and transferred to the Civil Enforcement Bureau in June of 2000. In 2004 he was promoted to Sergeant, supervising both First District Court and the Civil Enforcement Bureau. In June of 2014 he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the Enforcement Bureau where he was appointed Commanding Officer. Captain Guercio received his latest promotion in September of 2018, remaining Commanding Officer of the Enforcement Bureau along with the responsibilities of the additional commands. Captain Guercio received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Dowling College.

Sister Michelle Bremer Chaplain Sister Michelle Bremer is a native of Norwich (The Rose of New England), CT. She entered the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth in January 1962, and received a BA “cum laude” in Spanish, with a minor in Education from Holy Family University in Philadelphia, PA, in addition she holds an MA in Religious Studies with a concentration in Scripture from St. Charles Seminary in Overbrook, PA. During her 56 years as a religious, she has ministered as a classroom teacher, director of the formation, catechist, parish director of faith formation, and most recently as a full-time jail chaplain for 25 years. Her years of service have been carried out in NY, NJ, CT, and Puerto Rico, besides two years in Rome Italy, two in the Philippines, and 14 years in Peru, SA. In her religious community, Sister Michelle's community has participated in various chapters and committees. She has a special interest in and appreciates the wonders of nature and melodious classical music, and loves to sing.

Kevin O'Reilly Kevin J. O’Reilly joined the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office in July of 2019 as Employee Relations Director, where he oversees the human resource functions of the Sheriff’s Office and implements Sheriff’s Office policy related to personnel issues. Kevin also assists in representing the Sheriff at contract negotiations, grievance and arbitration hearings, and labor management meetings. Prior to joining the Sheriff’s Office, Kevin spent 22 years at CA Technologies (formerly Computer Associates) in a variety of human resource, corporate security, and compliance roles. Kevin holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management from SUNY Stony Brook and holds Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and History from Villanova University.

Pastor Alex W. Bryant Chaplain Pastor Alex Bryant is the founding Senior Pastor of Evangelical Praise House of Deliverance, also known as EPHOD Ministries, located in Central Islip, NY. A retired Suffolk County Correction Officer, Pastor Bryant served more than 29 years with the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office working with our inmate population in various capacities. Pastor Bryant also worked for 7 years as a Secure Care Therapy Aide at Central Islip Psychiatric Hospital and Kings Park Psychiatric Hospital. He has also worked at Suffolk Developmental Center where he worked with mentally and developmentally challenged individuals. Pastor Bryant currently works as a consultant for Council For Unity where he encourages at-risk youth to become more productive citizens in the community.

Project Lifesaver is a rapid-response program that aids victims and their families, who wander as a result of cognitive impairments. Project Lifesaver Project Lifesaver is a rapid-response program that aids victims (and their families) who wander as a result of cognitive impairments, or other afflictions. The program combines technology and specially trained Sheriff’s Deputies to locate individuals who have wandered. Project Lifesaver clients wear a “watch-type” wristband transmitter (worn on the wrist, ankle or as a necklace), which emits a tracking signal. When a caregiver calls the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line to report that a client has wandered, a search team responds to the wanderer’s area and, while in route, activates the vehicles mobile locator tracking system. A hand-held unit is used to search for clients in areas inaccessible by vehicles. In an emergency, caregivers must immediately notify the: Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver Emergency Response Line at 631-852-2791 and dial 911. How to Enroll in Project Lifesaver Enrollment applications can be obtained by calling (631) 852-3003. Your enrollment application must be completed and submitted to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office at 100 Center Drive, Riverhead, NY 11901. Once your application is reviewed, an appointment will be made for a home visit by a Project Lifesaver specialist from the Sheriff’s Office. How to Purchase Project Lifesaver Equipment The purchase of enrollment equipment is coordinated through the Sheriff’s Office once the client’s application is approved. Monthly Maintenance Monthly and/or yearly battery and wristband purchases may be requested by calling the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office at (631) 852-3003. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is Project Lifesaver? Project Lifesaver is a rapid-response program that aids clients (and their families) who wander as a result of cognitive impairments, or other afflictions. Who sponsors Project Lifesaver? Project Lifesaver is sponsored by the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office as well as non-profit organizations who make donations to the Suffolk County Sheriff's Foundation for Project Lifesaver. How does Project Lifesaver work? The program combines technology and specially trained Sheriff’s Deputies to locate individuals who have wandered. Project Lifesaver clients wear a “watch-type” wristband transmitter (worn on the wrist, ankle or as a necklace), which emits a tracking signal. When a caregiver calls the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line to report that a client has wandered, a search team responds to the wanderer’s area and, while in route, activates the vehicles mobile locator tracking system. A hand-held unit is used to search for clients in areas inaccessible by vehicles. How long does it take to enroll in Project Lifesaver? Applications can be requested by calling 631-852-3003. A Sheriff’s Deputy will then meet with the potential client/caregiver/family member making certain that the area is safe for the potential client and to assist with the necessary paperwork and instructions. How long does it take for the Project Lifesaver program to begin? Once you have met with a member of the Project Lifesaver Bureau and have the necessary equipment (transmitters take up to 2-4 weeks to ship), the program starts immediately. How is the initial equipment purchased? The purchase of Enrollment Equipment is coordinated through the Sheriff’s Office once the client’s application is approved. How is monthly maintenance equipment purchased? Caregiver purchase requests for batteries and wristbands, for monthly maintenance, can be obtained by calling 631-852-3003, or by email at: lifesaver@suffolkcountyny.gov , or through a registered Project Lifesaver International sponsor, or care facility. What happens if someone wanders? Caregivers must immediately notify the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver emergency response line (631-852-2791), and dial “911.” Project Lifesaver Bringing Loved Ones Home How long does it take to locate a missing client? Nationally, response times vary, but average under 30 minutes. How frequently should a transmitter battery be changed? Batteries emit a signal every second (24/7) and must be changed monthly. Is the transmitter waterproof? Yes. Clients can shower and swim while wearing the transmitter. Is the client’s transmitting equipment covered by insurance as a medical necessity? Check with your insurance carrier. If necessary, the Sheriff's Office can provide documentation to the insurance carrier that the client in question is enrolled in the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Project Lifesaver Program. What happens if something goes wrong with my equipment? Call the Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line immediately (631-852-2791). What happens if the transmitter is lost? Call the Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver line immediately (631-852-2791). Are there other Project Lifesaver programs? Project Lifesaver began in the Sheriff’s Office, Chesapeake, Virginia in 1999 and is now in over 1,300 Sheriff and Police agencies across the United States, Canada and Australia. Is there a guarantee that a person wearing a Project Lifesaver transmitter will be located? Client searches involve different variables and incidents are unpredictable. In over 3,000 reported searches, Project Lifesaver agencies have achieved a 100% success rate. The Sheriff’s Office feels Project Lifesaver equipment and established procedures greatly increases the likelihood of “Bringing Your Loved Ones Home” safely. Submit Thank you for your request. Someone will contact you shortly.

Learn more about the hiring process all officers go through to join the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office as a Deputy Sheriff or Correction Officer. HIRING PROCESS STEP 01 Register to take the exam through the Suffolk County Department of Civil Service STEP 02 Attend one of our orientation seminars to learn more about career opportunities. STEP 03 Pass the Physical Agility Exam (otherwise known as the Coopers Standard Test). STEP 04 Pass a medical evaluation. STEP 05 Pass a background investigation and interview. STEP 06 Pass a written psychological examination and interview. STEP 07 Receive an offer letter of employment and start your academy training.