Seven Nassau County residents completed their training to become armed deputies.

County Executive Bruce Blakeman says they are the first group to complete the training.

The county executive says the residents attended night training sessions at the Nassau Police Department’s training facility in Garden City. Blakeman says the future deputies are mostly former police and military members.

The training marks a significant step forward in a controversial plan to deputize residents who have gun licenses.

Democrat members of the county Legislature say they were kept in the dark about the training, and other aspects of the plan.

The Democrats are demanding more transparency from County Executive Blakeman and his administration.

Blakeman says he has previously briefed all of the Democrat legislators on the plan.

The first group of trainees are expected to graduate in about two weeks. At that point, the county executive says they will be available to be activated, if necessary.

Blakeman says the deputies would be used for extra security during extreme emergencies like Superstorm Sandy.