New York Democrats are challenging Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman's public-safety record, pointing to vacant jobs and a proposed cut in equipment spending at the Nassau County Police Department. The county executive's budget also proposes higher overall police spending and 36 additional officer positions, complicating the party's claim that he is “defunding” the department.
The county’s proposed 2027 budget shows 3,275 full-time police department employees on board as of Sept. 3. That was 50 fewer than at the end of 2025 and 183 below the 3,458 positions authorized for 2026. The proposal would authorize 3,494 full-time positions next year.
The police equipment line would fall from $3.53 million in the county's 2026 midyear projection to $2.66 million in the 2027 proposal, a reduction of about 25%. But total department expenses, including interdepartmental transfers, would rise from $1.20 billion to $1.24 billion, an increase of $40.9 million, or 3.4%.
New York State Democratic Party Chair Jay Jacobs called the staffing gap and equipment reduction evidence that Blakeman is “defunding” the department. In an Oct. 8 party statement, Jacobs said the county was losing officers while Blakeman campaigned on his public-safety record. The statement did not mention the proposed increase in overall police spending or the planned new positions.
Staffing figures show a more mixed picture
The budget distinguishes total department employment from sworn officers. As of Sept. 3, the rank-and-file Police Benevolent Association had 1,894 officers on board, matching its authorized 2026 count. The detective union had 297 members against 360 authorized positions, while the superior officers union had 363 against 375. The three sworn groups together were 75 below their combined authorized staffing level of 2,629.
Blakeman's proposal would add 36 Police Benevolent Association positions, bringing the budgeted total across the three sworn unions to 2,665. It also funds two recruiting classes intended to maintain staffing and anticipates that up to 150 officers could separate from service in 2027. Funding positions does not establish how many officers will ultimately be hired or remain on the force.
The party also cited Nassau's violent-crime record. amNewYork reported that state data show 2,294 violent index crimes in Nassau in 2024, the highest annual count from 2015 through 2024, compared with 2,271 in 2022. That is an increase of about 1%. Overall index crime fell from 18,553 incidents in 2022 to 16,260 in 2024, the outlet reported.
Blakeman's campaign did not respond to amNewYork's request for comment on the party's criticism. In the budget, Blakeman says his administration has hired police and corrections officers and proposes the additional sworn positions as part of its public-safety plan. The 2027 budget remains a proposal, not an enacted reduction or increase.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
