Long Island Politician with ties to Trump wants to deputize armed civilians

A Long Island politician is advertising for armed citizens to form a deputized militia that can be deployed during emergencies to help keep order.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who recently held an umbrella over former President Donald Trump's head during a funeral for a slain police officer, came up with the plan.

Blakeman and Nassau County Sheriff Anthony LaRocco put an ad on the county website in March offering to pay $150 a day for “Provisional Emergency Special Deputy Sheriffs” who know how to use firearms and would be trained on the use of force and firearms protocol at the police academy.

About 100 people applied for the roles, and they expect to have 25 former law enforcement and veterans ready to serve within 30 days.

Some residents think the plan is dangerous, however. President of the Hempstead NAACP branch Barbara Powell said, “This is open season to kill," citing risks of police violence against Blacks.

On Tuesday, protesters rallied outside the Nassau County Legislature in Mineola, New York, calling the deputies a "personal militia" for Blakeman and sharing concerns about how the deputies would work with the Nassau Police Department.