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The office of the sheriff is historically traceable to Alfred the Great in late 9th century Anglo-Saxon England. The unified kingdom was delineated into shires, known today as counties. A king’s representative, known as a shire-reeve, was assigned to each county, acting on behalf of the king. English language would later evolve and over time the shire-reeve became known as the sheriff.[2] The long-standing tradition of the sheriff was brought to Long Island by its early English settlers. Long Island was delineated into three geographical boundaries known as ridings. The West riding comprised present-day Nassau, Queens, and Kings counties. The East riding comprised present-day Suffolk County. The North riding comprised the remaining territory. Each riding had a deputy sheriff and a high sheriff was appointed by the governor to oversee the collective ridings that came to be known as Yorkshire. The constitutional convention of 1821 abolished the practice of appointing a high sheriff and instead, each individual county would choose their own sheriff through an election by the people.[3] The office of the sheriff is the oldest law enforcement position in the United States.[4]
In 1898, with approval from the New York State Legislature, the towns of Oyster Bay, North Hempstead, and a large portion of the Town of Hempstead were separated from Queens County officially forming the County of Nassau on January 1, 1899.[5] The newly created Nassau County would have William H Wood as its first elected sheriff.[6] Sheriff Wood went on to appoint Henry W Skinner as his undersheriff and also appointed the first deputy sheriff's thus making the Nassau County Sheriff's Department the oldest law enforcement agency in Nassau County. The Nassau County Sheriff's Department went on to play a vital role in the early foundation of law enforcement in Nassau County.
In 1900 the Nassau County Board of Supervisors approved the construction of the first Nassau County Jail to be under the control of the Sheriff's Department. The jail was built as an addition to the rear of the county courthouse located in Mineola. The jail consisted of multiple floors and wings which provided separate housing for men and women. It also provided a space in the center for jailors and Matron to operate within.[7] In 1950, to keep pace with Nassau County’s booming population, the county constructed a new correctional center located in East Meadow, New York. The East Meadow correctional center has received multiple additions since its inception and remains the central hub for all Division of Corrections operations.
In 1915, the Nassau County Sheriff's Department played a pivotal part in the implementation of a public safety telecommunications system devised by Charles A Ryder of the New York Telephone Company. With the Sheriff's Department at the helm, the system connected the various scattered county, town, and city law enforcement agencies within the county to a central hub. This system enabled law enforcement throughout the county to easily and effectively communicate pertinent information regarding reported crimes in progress with one another. All law enforcement throughout Nassau County could be alerted to an incident if required.[8]
By the 1920s New York City had begun to blend into Nassau County's western border. As a consequence to the prohibition of alcohol organized crime also began to boom. In 1925 due to rising concerns for public safety the Nassau County Police Department was founded. At the time of its formation, the Police Department was composed of fifty-five deputy sheriffs who were absorbed from the Nassau County Sheriff's Department.[9] Today, the Nassau County Sheriff's Department employs approximately 1200 people including civilian staff, correction officers, and deputy sheriffs.
Nassau County sheriff Wood and undersheriff Skinner at the Nassau County's temporary court house, circa 1899
Nassau County deputy sheriffs patrolling on motorcycles, cicra 1911[10]
Nassau County deputy sheriff tickets Lawrence Sperry after landing a plane in the street, circa 1922.[11]
Deputy sheriff outside the Mineola courthouse, circa 1955
South SideMmessenger newspaper clipping, "Nassau County Deputy Sheriff's Foil Barn Thief," circa 1910[12]
Nassau County Review newspaper clipping, "Children Saved by Nassau County Deputy Sheriff," circa 1913[13]
Department organization and rank structure
The Nassau County Sheriff's Department is organized into two distinct divisions known as the Division of Corrections and the Division of Enforcement. The Division of Corrections is responsible for all aspects of the county’s correctional facility (jail). The Division of Enforcement executes orders from the New York state courts and enforces both civil and criminal law throughout the county.
The commissioner of corrections is a division commander.
Deputy Undersheriff
The deputy undersheriff is an assistant division commander.
Chief Administrative Officer
Unknown
The chief administrative officer is a special units commander.
Correction Officer Captain
Corrections officer captains are platoon/unit commanders.
Correction Officer Lieutenant
Corrections officer lieutenants are tour commanders.
Correction Officer Sargent
Corrections officer sergeants are tour supervisors.
Correction Officer Corporal
Corrections officer corporals are housing unit supervisors.
Correction Officer
Division of Enforcement
Title
Insignia
Duties
Deputy Undersheriff
The deputy undersheriff is a division commander.
Deputy Sheriff Captain
Deputy sheriff captains are assistant division commanders.
Deputy Sheriff Lieutenant
Deputy sheriff lieutenants are unit commanding officers.
Deputy Sheriff Sargent
Deputy sheriff sergeants are unit field supervisors.
Deputy Sheriff
Division of Corrections - correction officers
The Division of Corrections is staffed by correction officers who are sworn peace officers pursuant to Article 2.10 Subsection 25 of the states Criminal Procedure Law.[14] The mission of the Division of Corrections is to provide a safe and secure environment for staff and inmates. Correction officers provide for the care, custody, control, and rehabilitation of detainees and inmates committed to its custody by the judiciary. In this regard, the department is required to comply with all laws, specifically correction law, oversight agencies such as the New York State Commission of Corrections, existing consent decrees, and court mandates.[15]
Correction officers attend and graduate from the Correction Officers Academy ran by the Nassau County Sheriff's Department. Academy training is approximately 12 weeks and includes the following:
Certification by the NYS DCJS - Metropolitan Police Training Council as peace officers (completing the Basic Course for Peace Officers).
Training in New York State Correction, Penal, and Criminal Procedure Law.
Physical training and defensive tactics, including handcuffing, control techniques, and less lethal use of force.
Training in firearms and the use of deadly physical force.
Training and first-aid, CPR, and AED.
Training in mental health awareness and de-escalation techniques.
Correction officers provide security at the Nassau County Correctional Center (Jail) and transport inmates as required for court appearances, medical attention, and transfer of custody pursuant to sentencing. Correction officers are assigned to work in the following units.
Operations Unit
Security Unit
Sheriff's Bureau of Investigation (SBI)
Medical Investigations Unit
Internal Affairs
Criminal Investigation Unit
Gang Unit
Grievance Unit
Communications Unit
K-9 Unit
Transportation Unit
Visiting Unit
Rehabilitation Unit
Medical Unit
Sheriff's Emergency Response Team (S.E.R.T)
Patch worn by Nassau County Correction Officers & Civilian LSU/CC Staff.
Shield worn by Nassau County Correction Officers.
Nassau County Corrections Dodge Durango.
Nassau County Corrections Ford Explorer (Old Design).
Nassau County Corrections Ford Excursion (Old Design).
Division of Enforcement - deputy sheriffs
The Division of Enforcement is staffed by deputy sheriffs who are sworn NYS-certified police officers pursuant to Article 1.20 Subsection 34(B) of the states Criminal Procedure Law.[16] The mission of the Division of Enforcement is to carry out the orders of the New York State Courts. This includes the execution of warrants, the discovery and seizure of property, the serving of civil process, and to conduct evictions.[17] Deputy Sheriffs draw their authority to enforce both criminal and civil law from the NYS Criminal Procedure Law, NYS Constitution, and the Nassau County Charter.[18]
Deputy sheriffs attend and graduate from the Nassau County Police Academy alongside officers from the county police as well as officers from village and city police departments within Nassau County. Police academy training is approximately 6 months includes the following.
Certification by the NYS DCJS - Metropolitan Police Training Council as Police Officers (completing the Basic Course for Police Officers).
Training and certification in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing for DWI offenders.
Training in New York State Penal, Criminal Procedure, Vehicle and Traffic, Environmental Conservation, Domestic Relations and other Laws.
Physical Training exceeding the cooper standards and Extensive Defensive Tactics, including arrest and control techniques.
Training in Emergency Vehicle Operations.
Training in Firearms and the use of Deadly Physical Force.
Training less lethal force including Tazer, Baton, and Pepper Spray.
Training and NYS Department of Health certification as emergency care providers.
Training in Mental Health Awareness and De-Escalation Techniques.
Deputy sheriffs do not provide security at the Nassau County Correctional Center (Jail) or in the courts. Deputy sheriffs work throughout the entire geographical area of Nassau County and are assigned to the following units.
Sheriff's Warrant Apprehension Program (SWAP)
Landlord and Tenant Eviction Unit
Domestic Violence Unit / Family Court Unit
Field Unit / Personal and Real Property Law Unit
Joint Federal Task Forces
Shield worn by Nassau County deputy sheriff's (Enscribed Deputy Sheriff).
Patch worn by Nassau County deputy sheriff's (Stitching says Deputy Sheriff).
Nassau County deputy sheriff Dodge Durango.
Nassau County deputy sheriff Ford Explorer
Nassau County deputy sheriff Ford Explorer (Old Design).
Civilian staff
The Nassau County Sheriff's Department employs both non-uniformed and uniformed civilians (non–law enforcement). These civilians support the administrative and logistical needs of the department by carrying out various duties as it relates to their positions.
Non-uniformed civilians
Administrative assistants
Clerks and secretaries
Cashiers
HR personnel
Accountants, Payroll, and Budgeting Personnel
Uniformed civilians (Logistical Support Unit & Civilian Correctional Center Staff)
Vehicle mechanics and fleet maintenance supervisors
Building maintenance
Grounds keepers
Cooks and food service supervisors
Patch worn by the LSU and Civilian Correctional Center Staff (Same patch also worn by Correction Officers).
New Style Badge worn by the LSU and Civilian Correctional Center Staff.
Fallen corrections officers
Since the establishment of the Nassau County Sheriff's Department, 4 corrections officers have died in the line of duty.
In August 1965 the Nassau County County Board of Supervisors, the predecessor to the County Legislature, passed a resolution (to begin in 1968) for a local proposal granting the county executive the authority to appoint a county sheriff if approved by the majority of the board. In November 1965 the proposal was put to a vote by county residents and passed. Joseph F. Maher was sworn in as the first appointed sheriff in Nassau County history On Jan. 1, 1968.[23]
Article XIII of the current New York State Constitution states,
Except in counties in the city of New York and except as authorized in section one of article nine of this constitution, registers in counties having registers shall be chosen by the electors of the respective counties once in every three years and whenever the occurring of vacancies shall require; the sheriff and the clerk of each county shall be chosen by the electors once in every three or four years as the legislature shall direct.[24]
While there is an exemption allowing an appointed sheriff in the 5 counties within the City of New York, no such exemption exists for Nassau County. Of the 62 counties in New York State, Nassau County is the only county without exemption in the New York State Constitution to have an appointed sheriff which has led some to question the constitutionality of having an appointed sheriff for Nassau County.[25] The appointment of a sheriff in Nassau County has not yet been challenged through the courts.
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