Dems sue Nassau County exec Bruce Blakeman for establishing illegal militia with civilian deputy program
Democratic legislators are suing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman claiming that the Long Island Republican illegally created a tax-payer-funded militia — allegations his office quickly slammed as bogus.A lawsuit filed in Nassau County Supreme Court by Democrats Debra Mule and Scott Davis and the Free and Fair Litigation group names Blakeman, Nassau County, and county sheriff Anthony LaRocco as defendants alleging they created an illegal and redundant “militia” by starting an emergency “special deputies” program of civilians last year.“New York State law does not authorize defendants to create a taxpayer-funded militia,” the lawsuit states.
“Defendants’ militia is illegal and represents a substantial and ongoing waste of public funds,” it later adds.The so-called “militia” refers to the “provisional emergency special deputy sheriffs” program Blakeman established on March 17, 2024.
The program deputizes volunteer citizens who are licensed to carry firearms to assist local law enforcement agencies during emergencies.The civilian members would be expected to help protect critical infrastructure in Nassau County in the event of a natural disaster, terrorist attack or other emergency.Nassau County swore in its first 26 citizen members on Dec.
31.Many of the members are retired from the military, police departments, or other emergency service organizations.
They’re not paid unless they are deployed.The lawsuit claims the program includes expenses that qualify as illegal spending of taxpayer money — including shelling out funds for background checks, conducting random drug screening, providing training, and the $150-a-day stipend when they are activated.The suit further claims that Blakeman’s office intended to keep the details of the program secret and has refused to comply with Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests.But Blakeman’s office said the lawsuit slanders the gracious volunteers and called the legal action needles...