County Sheriff To Issue Officer Visual Aid Program For Deaf Residents

BRENTWOOD, NY — Suffolk County residents who are deaf or hearing impaired will soon be able to better communicate with law enforcement.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr., Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Councilman James O’Connor will join with community advocates on Wednesday to announce a new program to assist Deputy Sheriffs to communicate with hearing impaired residents.

To ensure Suffolk’s Deputies are able to safely communicate with all residents, all Deputy Sheriffs, including those on highway patrol and serving warrants, will now be equipped with a new visor-sized palm card with images and icons that allow Deputies to identify needs with residents who are unable to communicate traditionally, a news release said.

It is estimated that more than 40,000 residents in Suffolk County have a hearing impairment or are deaf. Suffolk Sheriff’s Office’s Deputy Sheriffs will be the first law enforcement agency in Suffolk County to be equipped with these visor cards.