Monmouth County Officials Call For State Of Emergency Over Drone Sightings

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — Monmouth County officials are calling on Governor Murphy to declare a state of emergency over recent drone sightings throughout the state.

In a statement posted on Wednesday, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said Murphy must take immediate action responding to escalating concerns over unidentified drone sightings reported throughout New Jersey.

Golden is urging Murphy to declare a State of Emergency and issue an executive order banning recreational drone use during nighttime hours.

"Residents are increasingly alarmed by the surge in drone activity after dark, raising concerns about public safety and security," Golden said. "We cannot wait any longer. The Governor must act now, and the Air National Guard needs to step in to protect our communities.”

According to Golden, the increase in recreational drone use has created “a host of challenges” for law enforcement and emergency response teams.

Nighttime drone activity makes it difficult to identify operators and assess potential risks, Golden said, including illegal surveillance, interference with critical infrastructure and aviation hazards.

“De-drone equipment must be made available at the state level,” Golden said. “We are asking Congress to immediately pass federal legislation for state police and sheriff’s offices nationwide, which would enable them to address this issue head-on.”

The Monmouth County Board of County Commissioners also supported Golden’s call for a State of Emergency.

In a statement posted on Wednesday, the commissioners urged Murphy to take immediate action and backed Golden’s call for an executive order banning recreational drone use at night.

“On behalf of the entire Board of County Commissioners, I have stayed in constant contact with the Sheriff, Prosecutor, and members of law enforcement concerning the drones that have been sighted all over Monmouth County,” Commissioner Director Thomas Arnone said.

“We are completely supportive of the Sheriff’s call for Governor Murphy to declare a state of emergency," Arnone continued. "As well as his call for Congress to immediately pass federal legislation enabling state police and sheriff's offices to address this issue nationwide.”

Earlier this month, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office also issued a statement on recent drone sightings and said they’re sharing any information on sightings with partner agencies as information is received.

“Mirroring a broader trend, local law enforcement agencies have received multiple reports of drone sightings in municipalities across Monmouth County,” Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago said. “As of now, the drones are not known to pose any threat to public safety.”

Anyone concerned about a potentially suspicious drone sighting should call the non-emergency line of their local police department to report it, Santiago said.

The FBI’s Newark Office and the NJ State Police are also asking civilians to report any information on drone sightings to their tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit the information to their online tip line (videos can also be uploaded).

For more information about drones (also known as Unmanned Aircraft Systems or UAS), you can visit the State Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness’ UAS page.

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