Democrats have raised concerns about Nassau County’s “special deputies” squad, alleging that it includes individuals with criminal records and seniors, prompting County Executive Bruce Blakeman to defend the team’s integrity. Blakeman insists that every member of the force has passed thorough background checks.
As the Republican contender for governor, Blakeman is currently contesting a lawsuit backed by Democrats. This legal action seeks to dismantle his 2024 initiative, which recruited a 75-member civilian team to support police during emergencies and protests.
In newly submitted court filings, Democrats claim that the special deputies group includes individuals over 70 and four members with undisclosed arrests or outstanding warrants in their past.
The lawsuit argues, “Despite assurances from the defendants that the program comprises well-trained and ‘highly skilled’ individuals, some participants lack law enforcement experience. Their age or professional background suggests they may be unsuitable for exercising police powers over civilians in Nassau County.”
The documents, filed on Tuesday in State Supreme Court in Mineola, further state, “Four individuals appear to have either been arrested or had warrants issued for their arrest.”
In response, Blakeman issued a statement to The Post, firmly rejecting the Democrats’ claims.
“All special deputies went through an extensive background check and were trained in criminal law and firearms and all had valid New York State carry permits,” Blakeman said.
The executive then pointed the finger at his Democratic opponent in the gubernatorial race, Gov. Kathy Hochul.
“Unlike Kathy Hochul, whose confidential assistant was a communist Chinese spy operating under her nose, these individuals are licensed to carry a firearm, trained in criminal law, and are respected members of the community; many of whom served in the military and professional law enforcement,” Blakeman said, referencing former Hochul aide Linda Sun who stands accused of being an agent of China.
Felons are barred in New York state from obtaining gun licenses, which are required to be employed in the program but the legal filing makes no claim the four were convicted of felonies.
The latest filing also claimed about five members are in their 70s — well past the state’s mandatory retirement age of 62 for most law enforcement officers — while six members are already part of their auxiliary police, which Dems said “underscored the wastefulness of the program.”
It went on to allege that one person enrolled in the program is a relative of Blakeman while another is a doctor who was a member of his transition team, neither of whom have any law enforcement background.
“You can’t make this up,” Hochul said in response to the filing.
“My opponent created an armed, taxpayer-funded militia that allegedly included those with arrest records, a family member, and one of his political operatives,” she said, adding that Blakeman is “undermining local law enforcement” with the program — which Dems statewide have likened to a “militia.”
Blakeman said when he first rolled out the deputies program that its goal was to create a group of armed locals he could quickly deploy to protect infrastructure, government buildings, schools or hospitals during major emergencies.
Blakeman has previously said the program would free up the county’s roughly 2,600-member police force to focus on other duties during disasters like hurricanes or blackouts.
The deputies, who have been slowly being recruited to fill all 75 spots and would be paid $150 a day upon being activated, have not yet been deployed.
