'Exploring Our Options, All Avenues' Against Blakeman: Minority Leader

MINEOLA, NY — Democratic lawmakers are trying again to stop Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman from running his controversial program aimed at arming residents as special provisional deputies during emergencies.

A letter was sent Wednesday and signed by the Democratic caucus in the Legislature.

"You are arrogating to yourself power you do not have to advance an inflammatory and illegal
political stunt that wastes time, money and attention that should be devoted to our County’s real
issues and concerns," the letter concludes.

While Blakeman recently indicated that dozens of candidates had applied and training had begun, questions about the program remain. Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) said they have new information that if "someone researched this idea prior to instituting it, he would realize that the county executive does not have the power to do what he's stating he wants to do with this."

DeRiggi-Whitton said an emergency has to be declared by the county sheriff. That request, she said, "has to be approved by the governor."

Full-time advertisements sought people who have a firearm license and those with military or law enforcement background.

But DeRiggi-Whitton said, "The county executive doesn't even have the authority to call on additional reinforcements."

Patch attempted to get a comment from Blakeman's office.

Sending the letter to Blakeman was an "attempt to inform him of the correct parameters of the law," DeRiggi-Whitton said. "Honestly, we are going to be exploring our options and all avenues to ensure that his actions adhere to the confines of the law."

She said if Blakeman is left unchecked with the special provisional deputies program, the county could be forced into an "expensive lawsuit" with residents footing the bill.

"We'd like to avoid anything like that," DeRiggi-Whitton said.