Suffolk sheriff to lead ‘Say No to Drugs’ march

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. will lead Riverhead CAP’s 34th annual “Say NO to Drugs” march on Friday, June 7. Toulan will be the keynote speaker at the rally following the parade.

Suffolk County’s highest-ranking law enforcement official, Toulan is Suffolk’s 67th sheriff and the first African-American to be elected to a non-judicial countywide office.

In addition to initiating many innovative programs, he has also made it a priority to get to the root causes of and prevent youthful delinquency and inter-generational crime.

“Growing up in the South Bronx, I saw my peers smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol, which deterred me from engaging in that lifestyle,” Toulo said. “As an adult, I can see how it kept them from reaching their potential – none of them reached their potential.”

Toulon says the highlight of his position is having an impact on youth. His goal, he says, is to “get to them before they get to me.”

“Youth have a voice,” he said.

The Riverhead Community Awareness Program has been providing drug and alcohol prevention, education and counseling programs for the Riverhead Central School District since 1983. The nonprofit is best known for its two-year prevention program serving over 800 fifth- and sixth-graders in Pulaski Street School each year. The Life Skills program, taught by community volunteers and student peer leaders, concludes with the annual “Say NO to Drugs” march. Although the goal of the program is to prevent and delay underage drinking and drug use in youth, its evidence-based foundation is rooted in building self-esteem and increasing healthy decision-making skills.

“Sheriff Toulon is both community oriented and focused on prevention,” CAP executive director Felicia Scocozza said. “These values align perfectly with CAP’s mission. In addition, he is an excellent role model and has a positive message for Riverhead youth.”

“I’ve learned there is a lot more going on in young people’s lives than we realize,” Toulon said. “There is a need to fit in and get good grades, as well as the influences of peer pressure and social media. I want them to know that there are other mechanisms they can engage in instead of drinking, vaping and smoking marijuana.”

The 34th annual “Say NO to Drugs” march will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, June 7 in front of Pulaski Street School. It makes a loop around downtown Riverhead, heads south on Roanoke Avenue, then west on Second Street, returning to Pulaski Street School via Griffing and Hallett avenues.

Following the march, there will be a brief ceremony on the steps of Pulaski Street School in which Sheriff Toulon will address the students and community.

The Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #1742 will again generously serve a picnic lunch to all the students.