Nassau Seeks Armed Deputies To Protect "Human Life During Emergency'

MINEOLA, NY — Nassau County is planning to build a team of special deputy sheriffs in case of an emergency.

Each person is required to have skills using firearms but will have no police powers "unless an emergency is declared by the County Executive and they are activated," the sheriff's department said.

"What's an emergency? Is it going to be when a Black Lives Matter march happens? Is it going to be when a Palestinian march happens? Is it going to be when the St. Patty's Day parade happens in Long Beach? I don't know. What's an emergency?" Michael Moore, a member of the Nassau County FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), told Patch.

Moore, who spent two decades as a Nassau County court officer, first saw an advertisement seeking deputies.

The letterhead, with the county seal, has County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Sheriff Anthony LaRocco at the top.

"The first thing that popped into my mind was he's raising a militia," Moore said.

"The safety and security of all residents in Nassau County is our paramount concern," the ad states. Deputy sheriffs will protect "human life and property during an emergency."

Patch attempted to get a comment from Blakeman and the sheriff.

"It seems like the ad reads like it's a new initiative," Vasu Krishnamurthy, president of the Manhasset Democratic Club, told Patch. "That raises even more questions. There has been no public discussion, not in the legislature [and] not in any other public forum."

While Krishnamurthy questions why this is being pushed through without debate, Moore thinks it is unnecessary, even as a proactive measure.

"I don't see any need for it," Moore said. "It's playing to the fears that everyone has now. [Blakeman] has access to the Nassau County Police Department, the various villages and city police departments and the New York City Police Department right across the line.

"The state police are here, and he also has the ability to call out the National Guard in case of an emergency," Moore said.

The county said preference will be given to federal, state and local retired law enforcement, military veterans, licensed security guards and auxiliary police.

Moore was among the CERT members to receive the same ad in his inbox saying, "qualified persons to be called upon in times of emergency," according to an email obtained by Patch. "First and foremost, you must possess a Nassau County Pistol Permit and be willing to undergo further service weapon training as well as training in the use of force and NYS Penal Law."

"I don't want to get into speculation, but I will," Krishnamurthy said. "This is like Blakeman's normal modus operandi of sowing division [and] fear-mongering."

The county said they will pay a $150 stipend each day of a declared emergency. Moore said his CERT work is strictly voluntary.

"To have to say you're going to pay $150 for armed personnel to supplement an already fantastic police force--it just seems so absurd to me," Moore said. "I'm amazed that there isn't more outrage."