Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman on Tuesday announced endorsements from every police union in Nassau County, as law enforcement leaders gathered in Massapequa Park to back the Republican’s re‑election campaign.
Union presidents from across the county praised Blakeman’s public safety agenda, pointing to investments in equipment, expanded training and hundreds of new hires during his first term. "Many people say they back the blue, but Bruce Blakeman doesn’t just say he backs the blue — he acts upon it," Nassau Police Benevolent Association President Tommy Shevlin told reporters. Nassau Superior Officers Association President Ricky Frassetti called the endorsement a "no brainer" and cited the county’s ranking last year as the nation’s safest by U.S. News & World Report.
Police leaders at the event said the county has seen notable crime declines. Recent county data released by law enforcement showed major crimes dropped more than 25% to start the year, with Nassau logging 710 major crimes in January and February and recording no murders in the first two months of 2025 for a second consecutive year. Robberies, assaults, burglaries and auto thefts also fell sharply, officials said, and law enforcement credited Blakeman’s tougher approach to public safety for the reductions.
The Massapequa Park rally included endorsements from unions representing law enforcement beyond Nassau, including Suffolk County police, New York State troopers, Port Authority police and Metropolitan Transportation Authority officers. Speakers at the event described Blakeman as a "law and order" candidate and lauded policies they said supported officer safety and community policing.
Blakeman highlighted a series of public safety initiatives he has pursued while county executive, including a plan to prohibit mask wearing in county facilities except for health or religious reasons, rescinding Nassau’s sanctuary policies, and signing a cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He also announced the creation of a strategic response team intended to deploy to higher‑crime neighborhoods as that unit is phased into operation.
"Nassau County is the safest county in America thanks to the men and women of our police department, corrections officers, probation officers and my no‑nonsense approach to law and order," Blakeman said at the event. "I will always back the blue."
Blakeman is seeking a second four‑year term and will face Democratic County Legislator Seth Koslow in the November general election. The county executive’s salary is $227,959 a year.
Campaign endorsements from police unions can play a role in local races by mobilizing personnel and signaling to voters concerned about public safety, though analysts note that such support does not guarantee electoral outcomes. Blakeman’s campaign said the breadth of endorsements underscores law enforcement confidence in his record; Koslow’s campaign did not have an immediate comment at the rally.
The endorsements come as county officials continue to release periodic crime statistics and outline plans for policing and public safety spending ahead of the fall election. Local union leaders said their endorsements were based on what they described as tangible results and investments in departments rather than partisan considerations.
Officials at the event urged voters to evaluate candidates on public safety records and the resources provided to first responders. The county will continue to release crime data and deploy public safety initiatives in the months before the November election.