The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) has begun using banner planes to spread an important message to beachgoers and those near the Jersey Shore this summer: supporting relationships with local, county, and state law enforcement, and elevating the public’s awareness of “See Something, Say Something.”
The program is aimed at people in Ocean, Monmouth, Cape May, and Atlantic Counties, with banner planes carrying Homeland Security’s messages up and down the shore.
“We believe the banner messaging would be most effective in areas of mass gathering,” an NJOHSP representative said. “So, for the remainder of the summer – while beach attendance is at its peak and outdoor concerts and festivals are in full swing – NJOHSP will use these aerial banners to educate and remind the public to be vigilant, to pay close attention to their surroundings and to report red flags, should they see any.”
If you do see something suspicious, report it to local law enforcement and the NJOHSP’s Counterterrorism Watch Desk at 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ or at tips@njohsp.gov.
“If current events have taught us anything, it’s that bad actors look for opportunities to strike where mass gatherings are happening,” NJOSP Director Laurie Dolan said earlier this summer. “Community engagement and suspicious activity reporting, alongside a united and equipped law enforcement front, is critical to the continued safety and security of New Jersey.”