Language Access

The Department continues its dialogue with advocates and community members regarding the Language Access Plan. In response to their request, SCPD provided Language Line bills for over the phone interpretation services. The bills included the number of calls made from Department members, number of minutes used, languages requested, and the dollar amount totals.

The bills reflect a steady increase in Language Line usage from SCPD Department members since 2014, when the Language Access block was implemented. Advocates were informed of changes to the LAP regarding the use of Certified Bilingual members, now affording them the ability to conduct a monoligual conversation with LEP persons and convey the entire content to the non speaking Department member without the burden of taking over the reporting requirements. Advocates were also advised of the mandated Affidavit of Translation to be completed by Department members who provide interpretation or translation services for specified statements/confessions.

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Car Seat Inspections:

The Suffolk County Police Department has 12 Community Liaison, COPE and School Resource Officers professionally trained to inspect and install car seats. SCPD partnered with Education Assistance Corporation (EAC) at car seat safety events where trained officers physically inspected child seats for defects, recalls and proper installation. EAC provided replacement seats at no charge to the participants to ensure the safety of their children. This partnership with EAC has continued with CLO, COPE and SROs providing outreach in this capacity. SCPD partnered with members of Adelante, a Latino advocacy group in Brentwood and Central Islip, to provide car seat inspection and installation and explaining the importance of safety for their children while conducting a much needed community engagement activity to strengthen trust between police and the immigrant community. To request car seat inspections and installations, contact the Community Relations bureau.

Swim For Survival

SCPD associated with Police Athletic League sponsors a swimming program for youth at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue. The program offers very low cost swimming lessons for children provided by certified swim instructors. The flyers for the program are distributed in both Spanish and English. The program has two sessions accommodating 20 swimmers per session. It has been a very successful program for the past six (6) years.

Crash Course In Crash Avoidance:

This program is a half-day safe driving instructional course for teenagers between 16-19 years old. The goal of this program is to educate teenagers in avoidance measures under dangerous driving conditions. SCPD Emergency Vehicle Operations instructors will provide one week of instruction to teenagers to successfully complete the program.

S.A.V.E (School Active Violence Emergency) Hotline:

The Community Relations Bureau continues to implement the S.A.V.E. Program which began in 2018, streamlining the police response to an active violent school situation. As of December 30, 2018 S.A.V.E. hotline phone numbers have been installed in 34 public school districts within police district. The program is running with live phones in all 34 districts, where 440 phones have been installed in 310 school buildings. Two remaining school districts with several buildings and 1 college with 3 buildings are in the implementation process. In addition, 2 private schools and two local colleges have live hotline phones in their buildings. Community Relations Bureau will continue to be responsible for coordinating the implementation of this program and will act as a liaison between these schools and the police department.

Following the Parkland Active Shooter incident, the CRB contacted all public and private schools that were not part of the S.A.V.E. Hotline Program. These districts were again requested to commit to the S.A.V.E. Program and install active lines within their buildings.

The SAVE Hotline is a rapid, reliable, inexpensive system that is simple to utilize. Using a dedicated phone line placed in one or several locations throughout a building, the system automatically bypasses normal communication channels and immediately dials the Suffolk County Police 911 center supervisor. The supervisor views an instant display of the exact incident location and can provide immediate verbal communication to the caller. Additionally, the caller will be kept on the line to provide additional details as events unfold.

SAVE registration form

Letter of Introduction from Former County Executive Steve Bellone

SAVE Frequently Asked Questions

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Operation Medicine Cabinet:

In an effort to address the increase of heroin use among young people and ensure the proper disposal of unwanted or expired medications, the Suffolk County Police Department initiated a permanent, continuous drug reclamation program. The SCPD was the first police department in New York State to offer the public the option of disposing unwanted pharmaceutical drugs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Receptacles for unwanted pharmaceutical were installed in the lobby of each of the 7 Precincts.

In addition to collecting unwanted drugs, residents are able to deposit unwanted syringes in sharps containers. Community Liaison and COPE Officers respond to senior citizen meetings as well, disposing of unwanted pharmaceuticals, keeping them out of the hands of drug seeking individuals and protecting the environment. Unwanted pharmaceutical drugs continue to be deposited at the seven police precincts. Since the program’s inception in July 2010, over 53,025 pounds of medications have been collected.

The Ugly Truth

Community Relations Bureau has developed an education and awareness program to proactively combat the growing prescription drug and heroin epidemic in Suffolk County. Community Liaison Officers coordinate these events, which are hosted primarily at local high schools. Initially, School Resource Officers provide “Prescription Drugs to Heroin” presentations to students in assemblies or classroom settings during school hours. This is followed by “The Ugly Truth”, which is held in the evening and involves parents, students, faculty and other members of the community

Participants are given presentations regarding heroin and the Medical Examiner’s perspective on drug abuse deaths. SCPD EMT staff provides information on the Good Samaritan law, discuss signs and symptoms of an overdose, and demonstrate how to administer Narcan. Participants are provided with an opportunity to practice assembly and administration of the Narcan nasal applicator, and are given two doses of Narcan for emergency use. Personnel from the Department of Mental Health and Hygiene have ben added to give attendees a hopeful view for recovery.

The Ugly Truth event has been held in twenty-three school districts and community centers with more than 1500 participants trained in Narcan use. SCPD has worked closely with many school districts to educate and train their staff members in the signs and symptoms of overdose and the use of Narcan as well. More than 6100 community members have been trained in the use of Narcan since the program’s inception.