Blakeman's Armed Residents Used Only For 'Very Significant Emergency'

MINEOLA, NY — For the second time in less than a week, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman addressed critics who are opposed to his launching an armed unit of deputies to patrol in emergencies.

"The Provisional Deputy Sheriffs are nothing more than a list, a database of people, who would be willing to volunteer in the event that there was an emergency," Blakeman said Monday. "They would not be activated unless there was a very significant emergency."

Shortly before Blakeman spoke, dozens gathered on the steps of the Legislative Building to air their concerns about the plan, including the question of what constitutes an emergency.

As for another question, Blakeman announced they will have to wear uniforms that identify them as special provisional deputies "so that they don't get injured by police or other law enforcement."

Approximately 100 people applied to be deputies and Blakeman said he's being proactive by building up resources for worst-case scenarios.

"They would not be going out on patrol," he said. "Primarily, their task would be to guard and protect government buildings, hospitals, utility plants, sewer treatment plants, churches, mosques and synagogues and things of that nature."

Blakeman said using the deputies in that way "would free up our police officers to do other work."

Despite skills in the use of firearms as a key criterion for the job and preference for those with law enforcement and military background, the county executive said everyone will get training starting this week, from the use of deadly force to the penal law.

"Most of the people on this database list that we have don't even need it," he said. "It'll be a refresher course for them."

He expected to have the first group of 25 provisional deputies potentially ready for duty in a month or so.

Before the deputies are officially certified, "they have to get a letter from their physician that they are fit both mentally and physically."

Training aside, "they will have no powers whatsoever unless an emergency is declared," Blakeman said. "I don't know why there are people [who] are opposed to this. They all are licensed to carry or have a firearm. I don't know what the whole brouhaha is all about."