A New York county with one of the nation’s largest police forces is deputizing armed residents

By PHILIP MARCELO
Associated Press

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A New York county with one of the nation’s largest police forces is training a unit of armed residents that can be called up during natural disasters and other major emergencies. But some residents of Nassau County in the New York City suburbs say the so-called provisional special deputy sheriffs are a dangerous example of fear mongering and government overreach. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman dismisses the critics as politically motivated. He says the deputies will only be deployed during emergencies to protect critical infrastructure. About 20 have completed their training to date with more along the way.