The region’s largest utility workers’ union is teaming up with Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley to make the holiday season a little brighter for the surviving family members of homicide victims.

Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 will deliver about 30 turkeys and hams to Conley’s annual breakfast for homicide survivors this morning. The annual breakfast brings survivors together with prosecutors, victim advocates, investigators, and others who worked on their cases.
“Each year we host an informal gathering of parents, siblings, spouses and others affected by homicide,” Conley said. “These are folks we’ve built a relationship with over a period of many years. So when Local 369 reached out to see how they could help the families who need it most, we knew exactly who to connect them with.”

Of 36 Suffolk County homicide cases resolved this year, 32 have ended with convictions, Conley said. Every case – solved or unsolved, with a conviction or an acquittal – is assigned a specially-trained victim-witness advocate to guide surviving family members through what can be a confusing, imposing journey through the investigation and prosecution.

“They’re at the heart of our mission to serve victims,” Conley said. “That’s what this office is all about.”

Local 369 is expected to make the delivery to the DA’s downtown offices at about 10:00 this morning.