Democrats Seek Transparency For Blakeman's Armed Deputies Program

MINEOLA, NY — Democratic members of the Nassau County Legislators are demanding immediate transparency for the plan to armed citizens as deputies in emergencies.

It's the latest attempt to quell County Executive Bruce Blakeman and his special provisional deputies program.

"We have been informed, and we have reason to believe that they're actually being trained at the Nassau County Police Academy," Leg. Seth Koslow (D-Merrick) told Patch. "We don't know what type of training they're getting, how much training they're getting [and] when they're being trained."

Since announcing the program in countywide advertisements, Blakeman has been accused of providing minimal details, although qualifications included skill in using a firearm.

At a rally last month opposing armed deputies, Susan Gottehrer, Director of the Nassau Chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, said: "What is your evidence-based data that justifies the need for this? And how do we know based on your behavior that we can trust your judgment concerning the declaration of an emergency? The answer is that we can't."

Another issue that lawmakers want an answer to is pay for the deputies.

"If there's not being paid, that's illegal," Koslow said.

The initial ads did state a $150 stipend per day during emergencies.

"If they are being paid and more than $3 an hour, which is what's required in the statute, then they're violating the statute without getting authorization from the legislature," Koslow said. "We have no response from the administration."

Patch also attempted to get a comment from Blakeman.

"They are trying to avoid the checks and balances that is required, which is why we have the legislature there to avoid things like this don't happen."

Blakeman has not been forthright about the deputy candidates, critics said, despite highlighting some of their profiles at last month's news conference. Koslow said his colleagues have not learned any details about the candidates.

"The county executive has not responded to any of our requests for any sort of information, whatsoever," he said. "It's indicative of an executive who thinks he has ultimate authority to do whatever he sees fit."