Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. was joined by the family of Kathy Bishop on October 29 to open the Domestic Violence Bureau’s new office space at District Court in Central Islip, which the county renovated to accommodate the increase in staffing due to new responsibilities. The opening of the new office space came in time to pay tribute to Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The Domestic Violence Bureau is responsible for serving Orders of Protection as well as Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO), commonly referred to as the “Red Flag” law, in which Suffolk County leads New York State. This year, the Bureau has served close to 5,000 Orders of Protection and more than 1,800 ERPOs. Last year, the sheriff announced an increase in staffing and office space to meet the increase in work volume.
“These deputies perform an incredibly dangerous job, often entering homes where weapons may be present and situations can quickly become volatile and unpredictable,” said Suffolk Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “I’m proud of the courage and dedication they show every day to keep our residents safe. I’m especially proud that we can dedicate this space in memory of Kathy Bishop, keeping her legacy alive by protecting even more victims of domestic violence.”
During the ceremony, the new office space was dedicated to Kathy Bishop (formerly Germaine), whose tragic murder was the unfortunate catalyst for the sheriff’s office to begin serving the orders in September 1992. Prior to 1992, Suffolk County residents were tasked with serving their own Orders of Protection, which led to Bishop being denied an order of protection against her husband, who ultimately killed her days later in July 1992.