A Nassau County official is carrying out a program that would enlist civilian residents with gun licenses for emergency law enforcement initiatives, without many other qualifications being required.
In an eyebrow-raising advertisement that was published in Newsday earlier in March, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman stated that Nassau County was looking for citizens to fill provisional special deputy sheriff positions. He also said that these deputy sheriffs wouldn’t have any authority unless a state of emergency has been declared.
Additionally, Blakeman said he is looking to build an army, or reinforcements, of sheriffs’ deputies, but ones that can only work in a state of emergency such as Superstorm Sandy, the COVID-19 pandemic, or others declared at the country’s borders.
“I have a background in homeland security, so I know the most important thing you can do is plan for any emergency,” Blakeman said on Wednesday.
There are a few job requirements for these deputy positions listed, including being between 21 and 72 years old, having a pistol license, and passing a background check. Those with law enforcement or military experience are encouraged to apply, though it is not mandated by Nassau County.
“They would not be doing any patrolling. They would be protecting infrastructure,” the county executive stated.
However, despite the requirements, some other officials are concerned about giving private citizens badges when the rules aren’t being clearly outlined.
“I just keep picturing a western movie. This is Nassau County, we are not the Wild West,” said District Legislator of Nassau county, Delia Deriggi-Whitton.
Deriggi-Whitton heavily criticized the plan, arguing that Nassau County has 2,500 well-equipped and trained police officers who have a billion-dollar budget, and that the provisional deputies are completely unnecessary.
In terms of the community’s response, some see it as a proactive way for citizens to get involved, while others see this initiative as a dangerous and unstable model, questioning the authority and training being given to people who are not in law enforcement.
Blakeman stated that deputies would get paid $150 per day of work they put in. Reportedly, there have already been 80 applicants for the positions.
The deadline to apply is Monday, April 1.
Neither the County’s or State’s police or sheriff’s union has commented on the plan.
