(MINEOLA, NY, February 5th, 2025) Nassau County Democratic legislators and civil rights attorneys have filed a lawsuit against Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, challenging the creation of an illegal taxpayer-funded civilian militia.
Nassau County Legislators, represented by Kelner & Kelner, Esqs. and the Free and Fair Litigation Group, are seeking to block Blakeman’s administration from deputizing private citizens as “special sheriff’s deputies” and using public funds for a program that lacks transparency, oversight, and legal authority.
Legislator Seth Koslow, Ranking Member of the Nassau County Public Safety Committee, emphasized the lawsuit’s urgency, stating, “Bruce Blakeman’s militia is not about public safety—it’s political theater at the expense of Nassau County residents. There is no justification for creating an unaccountable and illegal force that answers only to the County Executive. We already have a highly trained police department and emergency responders. This militia is a reckless abuse of power.”
The lawsuit alleges that Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman lacks the legal authority to create an armed civilian force. Under New York County Law §655, sheriffs may deputize trained law enforcement officers from other agencies in a true emergency—but Blakeman is handing out badges and weapons to private citizens with minimal training and little oversight.
“New York State law is clear: only professional, sworn officers can wield police powers,” said civil rights attorney Josh Kelner of Kelner & Kelner, Esqs. “Blakeman’s militia is illegal and a clear threat to public safety. We are taking this case to court to stop it before it’s too late.”
This lawsuit comes as similar armed civilian forces gain traction in Republican-led municipalities across the country.
“County Executive Blakeman’s militia endangers public safety in Nassau County and the health of our democracy nationwide,” said Carey Dunne of Free and Fair Litigation Group. “Our lawsuit alleges an authoritarian power grab in the heart of suburban America, where a handpicked group of armed vigilantes operates secretly at the beck and call of an unchecked executive. We cannot let the abuse of executive power go unanswered — at any level of government. Free and Fair is proud to work with legislators and our co-counsel to protect the rule of law.”
Beyond the legal violations, legislators are raising concerns about the secrecy surrounding the program. Despite multiple inquiries, Blakeman’s administration has refused to disclose essential details such as who is being recruited, the scope of their training, the specific weapons they will carry, and the total taxpayer cost of the program.
Legislator Debra Mulé of the Nassau County Legislature Public Safety Committee condemned the lack of transparency, noting, “We filed formal Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests to get answers, and Blakeman ignored them. Even the County budget hides how much money is being funneled into this program. If this militia is such a great idea, why is he hiding it from the public?”
Adding to the concerns is Blakeman’s suggestion that these armed civilians could be deployed to patrol protests. Legislator Koslow called attention to the deeply troubling implications of such a move. “Let’s be clear—this isn’t just a bad idea, it’s an authoritarian tactic,” Koslow said. “The County Executive is essentially creating a private force answerable only to him. That’s dangerous, unaccountable, and has no place in a democracy.”
The lawsuit demands that the court declare Blakeman’s militia illegal, halt all public spending on the program, and compel the administration to comply with public records laws. Legislators are calling on Nassau County residents to stand against this misuse of power.
“We will not allow Bruce Blakeman to put lives in danger,” said Democratic Legislative Minority Leader Delia DeRiggi-Whitton. “This is not the Wild West, and he is not some sheriff in an old-time Western. Nassau residents deserve real public safety—not anonymous civilians with badges.”