A local New York politician is proposing a plan that would involve the creation of "a list of deputized, armed civilians that can be deployed during emergencies," The Daily Beast reports.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman last week, according to the report, was asked by Donald Trump to hold an umbrella over the former president's head during the wake for former New York City police officer Jonathan Diller.
Per the Beast, Blakeman and Nassau County Sheriff Anthony LaRocco last month "put an ad on the county’s website for residents to apply to be 'Provisional Emergency Special Deputy Sheriffs,'" and the ad notes, "the deputized civilians must be 'skilled in the use of firearms,' and 'within 45 days of appointment must be trained and qualified on service weapon and complete basic training at the Academy in the NYS Penal law and Use of Force.'"
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Furthermore, The deputized citizens would be paid a $150 stipend each day they're on duty.
According to Long Island News 12, the New York GOP leader "says he wants to deputize pre-screened citizens with gun licenses so they can be called upon in cases of 'significant emergency' to protect government buildings, hospitals, religious centers and utilities – but not to patrol. He says that some of the more than 100 applicants will begin training this week, and that it will take at least 30 days before he has 25 or so people available, if needed to be called upon."
Blakeman's plan, according to the Beast, "has been deemed dangerous by Nassau County residents and legislators who rallied against Blakeman outside of the Nassau County Legislature on Tuesday in Mineola, New York."
In opposition to the Republican leader's plan, Hempstead NAACP President Barbara Powell declared during the rally, "This is open season to kill."
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New York state Senate Kim Keiserman, a Democrat, said of Blakeman, "I think he’s really out of step with the culture of Nassau County, and that’s why the legislators haven’t heard any positive feedback about this idea. It’s really out of step. It’s not governing, it’s performance."
The Beast adds, "Nassau County already has roughly 2,500 police officers, and the National Guard has previously stepped in to assist during emergencies like Hurricane Sandy. Critics point out that Nassau County—which just a couple years ago was deemed the safest community in America by U.S. News and World Report—enjoys an exceedingly low crime rate."
The Daily Beast's full report is available at this link (subscription required). Long Island News 12's report is here.
