New Jersey Governor Seeks Additional Federal Support for Drone Investigation

December 13, 2024 TruthUSA

The New Jersey State Police have been receiving reports of drones since November, yet details regarding the aircraft remain limited.

On Thursday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged for enhanced federal resources to probe the recent surge of “unmanned aircraft systems” (UAS) flying over what he referred to as “the most dangerous two miles in America.”

State legislation limits the capacity of law enforcement to respond effectively, leading him to seek additional federal assistance. He expressed this in a post on X this past Friday, which included a letter addressed to President Joe Biden.

Murphy stated, “The proliferation of this technology has introduced additional risks to public safety, privacy, and homeland security, while state and local law enforcement entities remain hamstrung by existing laws and policies to successfully counteract them, placing the responsibility for action regarding UAS firmly on the federal government.”

The New Jersey State Police have been documenting drone sightings since November. Although the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI have provided valuable support in the investigation, Murphy emphasized the necessity for further resources.

“Residents of New Jersey deserve more definitive information regarding these UAS sightings and the reasons behind them,” Murphy remarked. “The ongoing reports of UAS activities have led to more questions than answers, fueling a proliferation of conspiracy theories on social media and other platforms.”

Additionally, Murphy communicated with Congress in another letter he posted on X, advocating for support of the Safeguarding the Homeland From Unmanned Aerial Systems legislation that would broaden state law enforcement’s powers to investigate UAS.

“Our state is situated within what homeland security experts categorize as ‘the most dangerous two miles in America,’” Murphy noted. “With vital infrastructure, major highways, and sensitive chemical processing facilities, I am concerned about our susceptibility to terrorist attacks and our capacity to defend against them.”

On Thursday, New Jersey lawmakers dispatched a separate letter to the DHS, FBI, and Federal Aviation Administration requesting a briefing. They highlighted the security and safety concerns surrounding drones traversing civilian neighborhoods as well as sensitive military sites in the state.

In response to reports of drone sightings, on Thursday, the FBI and DHS issued a statement, indicating that some of the reported drones may actually be manned aircraft “operating lawfully,” with no evidence of any drones infringing on restricted airspace.

“The FBI, DHS, and our federal partners, in close collaboration with the New Jersey State Police, are continually deploying personnel and technology to investigate this situation and ascertain whether the reported drone flights are indeed drones or rather manned aircraft or otherwise erroneous sightings,” the departments stated.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.

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