Background:
Boyle, 56, of Bay Shore, is the designated GOP candidate but is facing a Republican primary challenge. He has the Conservative and Independence party lines in the general election. Boyle has spent 23 years as an Albany lawmaker — 18 in the Assembly and the last five as a state senator. During his tenure, Boyle has served as chair of the bipartisan Senate Task Force on Heroin and Opioid Addiction, which led to passage of a package of 11 measures aimed at combating the epidemic. He also is on the Senate Codes committee, which deals with any changes to state criminal laws, and had served on the same committee in the Assembly. Boyle has been a top aide to several congressman, including former Rep. Rick Lazio. A political science graduate of the University of North Carolina, Boyle earned a law degree from Albany Law School and a master’s in public administration from Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany. He is also an active 20-year volunteer firefighter with the Great River Fire Department and a past emergency medical technician.

Issues:
Boyle said the two largest issues facing law enforcement are the heroin and opioid drug problem and gang violence. He favors increased penalties for drug dealers and helping those addicted with treatment. He backs partnering with state, federal and local agencies to combat crime from groups such as MS-13. He also supports improving programs in jail for those convicted of crimes resulting from addiction.

Background:
Zacarese, of Kings Park, is waging a GOP primary for county sheriff in his first run for public office. He has the Reform Party line in the general election. Zacarese, 42, is assistant chief of the Stony Brook University police and the university’s emergency management office, a post he has held for eight years. Earlier, he was a New York City police officer for a decade, serving at various times as a plainclothes anti-crime officer, a paramedic and a canine dog handler in the emergency services unit as well as narcotics enforcement sergeant. Zacarese is a lawyer, holds a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor of arts degree in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He works as an instructor at the Suffolk County Fire Academy and an adjunct instructor at Stony Brook University Graduate School of Professional Development. He is also an advanced life support paramedic for the Commack Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Issues:
Zacarese said he is the only experienced law enforcement professional in the race and he will not be beholden to political bosses or backroom deals. He said he will press to make sure that all immigrants who are living here illegally and who are convicted of crimes are deported from this country. He also said he will work for increased drug enforcement and seek improved drug treatment of jail prisoners to provide a pathway to recovery and reduce recidivism.