NEW YORK — Democratic lawmakers in Nassau County are taking legal action against Republican County Executive Bruce Blakeman for establishing an armed unit of volunteer residents, which they claim constitutes an “illegal, taxpayer-funded civilian militia.”
The lawsuit, which was submitted on Wednesday, asserts that Blakeman lacked the legal power to create a group of special sheriff’s deputies with the authority to use deadly force and execute arrests under the guise of law. According to the Democrats, state legislation permits local sheriffs to appoint only trained law enforcement personnel from other agencies in times of emergency, and not private citizens.
“New York State law is unequivocal: only sworn, professional officers are permitted to exercise police authority,” stated an attorney from Kelner & Kelner, the firm representing the Democratic lawmakers. “Blakeman’s militia is a violation of the law and poses a significant threat to public safety.”
The Democratic minority in the county legislature also expressed their concerns over Blakeman’s administration not responding to public records petitions that request essential information about the program—this includes details about recruitment, training extent, the types of firearms used, and the complete costs incurred to taxpayers.
While Blakeman did not immediately address the claims of secrecy, he referred to the lawsuit as “frivolous” and implied that the Democrats were maligning the volunteer deputies, many of whom are former military service members or law enforcement officers. He emphasized that these armed volunteers must be licensed gun owners and must complete a minimum of 12 hours of classroom training, along with practical firing range exercises.
Blakeman has made it clear that these deputies would only be activated during times of significant emergencies, such as natural disasters, and would work to secure government structures, hospitals, and essential infrastructure, not for managing protests or patrolling public streets as critics have alleged.
A county spokesperson did not provide an update regarding the situation, but there were reports that, as of last summer, around two dozen volunteers had completed their training with an intended total of about 50.
The Democrats highlight in their lawsuit that Nassau County already has one of the largest police forces in the country, comprising approximately 2,600 sworn officers. State troopers also patrol the area, and numerous local villages maintain their police departments.
Furthermore, the county can activate hundreds of unarmed volunteers through programs like the Nassau County Auxiliary Police and the Community Emergency Response Team managed by the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management. The lawsuit questions, “The defendants have not clearly articulated how a group of fewer than one hundred armed civilians would significantly assist the thousands of trained and registered police and peace officers who are available to serve the emergency needs of Nassau County residents.”
The document stresses that permitting poorly trained private individuals to wield power on behalf of local government during emergencies raises significant safety concerns, both for trained law enforcement officers and the general public.
