Spot Drones In Mendham? Here’s What You Should Do

MENDHAM, NJ — For those curious about the mysterious drones that have continued to hover over New Jersey skies, Mendham Township officials are providing key information on what you need to know.

Mayor Sarah Neibart, in collaboration with Ross Johnson, Chief of the Mendham Township Police Department, released a statement addressing the briefing held yesterday by the New Jersey Department of Homeland Security.

The briefing, held on Wednesday, saw State Homeland Security officials and New Jersey State Police meet with mayors, legislators, and staff from Gov. Phil Murphy's office to discuss the widespread sightings.

"There have been many rumors and reports regarding the origin of these drones but, at this time, unfortunately, it is still unclear who is operating the drones and where they are taking off and landing," Neibart said. "The NJSP has deployed helicopters to attempt to detect the drones but even with infrared cameras, they haven’t been able to."

Morris County has become a hotspot for drone sightings since they first appeared around Nov. 18. Nearly four weeks later, however, state and federal officials still have little information about the origin or purpose of these drones.

State police have reports of between four and 180 sightings per night, according to Murello and State Assemblywoman Dawn Fantastia (R-24).

According to Neibart, the FBI and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) are hopeful that, with additional resources from the Coast Guard and emerging technologies, they will be able to better detect drone activity moving forward.

In addition, an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Dashboard is being developed to track and manage drone sightings.

Going forward, anyone who observes suspicious drone activity is urged to report it to the NJOHSP's Counter-Threat Watch Unit at 866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365) or via email at tips@njohsp.gov.

Neibart also noted that they have received inquiries about the possibility of 'shooting down' the drones, but emphasized that this is not permitted.

"At this time, state and local authorities do not have the legal ability to mitigate threatening drone activity. Shooting down a drone in NJ is illegal and violates federal law — it also can pose safety risks to people and property on the ground," she added.

Neibart was among several mayors who sent a letter to Gov. Murphy expressing their 'deep concern' over the lack of answers and urging state officials to provide more information.

"The lack of information and clarity regarding these operations has caused fear and frustration among our constituents," the group wrote, adding that there are more than 500,000 residents of the county.

Community leaders outlined four urgent concerns regarding the unexplained drone flights: public safety, privacy and security, community well-being, and airspace restrictions. Several local council members also added their names to the letter, which was sent on Sunday.

"We will continue to seek answers and provide updates when we receive verified, concrete information," Neibart said.