Democratic officials in suburban New York have initiated legal action against a Republican county executive over the establishment of a volunteer armed unit. This unit is described by the Democrats as an “illegal, taxpayer-funded civilian militia.”
The complaint was lodged on Wednesday against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is accused of exceeding his legal powers by forming a group of special sheriff’s deputies that purportedly have the authority to utilize deadly force and make arrests under the guise of law enforcement. The plaintiffs assert that state legislation only permits local sheriffs to appoint trained law enforcement personnel from other agencies in emergencies, excluding private citizens from this role.
“New York State law is explicit: police powers are reserved for sworn and professional officers,” stated Josh Kelner, whose law firm collaborated with the Free and Fair Litigation Group to advocate for the Democrats. He further emphasized that Blakeman’s organized group poses significant risks to public safety and is operating outside the law.
The Democrats, currently holding the minority position in the county legislature, also voiced concerns that Blakeman’s administration has failed to address their requests for public records. These requests sought information concerning the program’s details, such as recruitment procedures, training scope, weapons types, and overall financial costs borne by taxpayers.
In response to the allegations about lack of transparency, Blakeman did not provide an immediate statement but dismissed the lawsuit as “frivolous.” He contended that the Democrats were disparaging the 26 volunteers who have already been sworn in, highlighting that many of these individuals are retired military personnel or former law enforcement officers.
According to Blakeman, all armed deputies are required to possess gun licenses and must undergo a minimum of 12 hours of both classroom training and practical range exercises. He has assured the public that these deputies will only be deployed in situations involving natural disasters or other major emergencies.
Additionally, Blakeman clarified that the deputies’ roles would be to safeguard government facilities, medical institutions, and essential infrastructure, maintaining that they would not be utilized for crowd control or street patrols as claimed by Democratic critics.
In their lawsuit, the Democratic lawmakers highlight that Nassau County already boasts one of the largest local police forces nationwide, with approximately 2,600 sworn officers. Furthermore, state troopers are present in Nassau County, and numerous local villages operate their own police departments. In emergencies, the county can mobilize hundreds of unarmed civilians through existing community volunteer organizations.
The lawsuit questions the necessity and effectiveness of deploying a small unit of armed civilians alongside numerous trained professionals, raising concerns about the potential risks that could arise from allowing less-trained private individuals to engage in law enforcement duties, particularly during emergencies. It argues that this arrangement could endanger both trained law enforcement officers and the general public.
