Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman's program to enlist civilians as provisional special deputy sheriffs during crises has sparked controversy, with supporters emphasizing enhanced emergency response capabilities and opponents expressing concerns about increased firearm presence and lack of transparency. Residents like Laura Burns and Allison Dzikowski distrust the necessity of civilians in law enforcement roles, while county legislators, including Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, criticize Blakeman for insufficient consultation and raise doubts about the adequacy of training provided to the special deputies, with DeRiggi-Whitton drawing comparisons to historical paramilitary groups, sparking outrage from Blakeman and his supporters.