35 New Suffolk County Correction Officers Sworn In at Yaphank, Begin Training

Thirty-five new correction officer recruits took the oath Monday at Yaphank Correctional Facility and entered a 15-week training academy, Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon, Jr.'s office said. The recruits will begin classroom and hands-on instruction aimed at preparing them for facility assignments across the county.

Sheriff Toulon welcomed the class and framed the role's authority and obligations, saying the recruits “now hold a position of authority in Suffolk County, and with that authority comes great responsibility.” Toulon presided over the ceremony at the Yaphank facility as the recruits were formally sworn in.

The training curriculum includes instruction in direct supervision, de-escalation techniques, report writing, defensive tactics and firearms handling, with additional topics to prepare officers for day-to-day correctional duties. The 15-week academy is described by the sheriff's office as rigorous and designed to combine policy, practical skills and supervised scenario training.

Class composition is 29 men and six women. Six members of the group bring prior military or law-enforcement experience, including service with the New York Police Department, and are expected to draw on that experience during the academy. The recruits are scheduled to graduate this summer and will join a corrections force of more than 840 Suffolk correction officers once they complete training.

Officials said the additions will help maintain safe, secure and professionally managed facilities while supporting the Corrections Division’s broader mission of rehabilitation and community safety. The Corrections Division, according to the sheriff's office, also oversees budgeting, compliance inspections, records management, grievance processing, emergency response and gang intelligence as part of its operations.

For media or public inquiries, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office directs callers to the Public Relations Office. The sheriff's main office is located at 100 Center Drive South, Riverhead, NY 11901; phone (631) 852-2200. The new class will remain in training over the coming weeks with graduation planned for this summer, marking the next step toward deployment across Suffolk County correctional facilities.