West
Trenton, N.J. - A new branch of the New
Jersey State Police took flight today
at the Mercer County Airport. Governor
James E. McGreevey, Attorney General Peter
C. Harvey and State Police Superintendent
Rick Fuentes introduced the State Police
Homeland Security Branch to an audience
surrounded by the tools of the trade including
a bomb truck, an armored car and helicopters
in a large airport hangar.
With
the support of the Governor and Attorney
General, Colonel Fuentes initiated the
new branch to allow the State Police to
coordinate statewide resources for a strong
and fast response to emerging public safety
threats. The branch will bring the Emergency
Management Section and the newly established
Special Operations Section under one command.
This increases the state's capacity to
respond to an elevated threat level or
any event requiring the concerted efforts
of law enforcement, intelligence and emergency
response workers.
"It
is critical that the brave men and women
serving our State on the home front of
the war against terrorism are given the
tools they need to do their jobs,"
said McGreevey. "To support our State
Police, we're upgrading our 9-1-1 systems,
hiring 200 additional troopers, and providing
400 new trooper cars. Combined with the
establishment of the new Homeland Security
Branch, these statewide resources will
further our efforts to protect New Jersey's
families."
"Under
the direction of the Domestic Security
Preparedness Task Force, the Division
of State Police, working in partnership
with the Office of Counter-Terrorism,
has responded magnificently in performing
homeland security duties, especially when
the national alert level has been raised,"
said Attorney General Peter C. Harvey.
"The new Homeland Security Branch
will institutionalize and streamline State
Police's response to these ongoing and
increased security demands, and will better
protect New Jersey's citizens as a result."
Colonel
Rick Fuentes spoke about the positive
effects this realignment will have for
New Jersey's citizens. "This new
branch gives us the unified, efficient
command structure necessary to integrate
our resources with our partners at the
municipal, county and federal levels,"
said Fuentes. "It's the streamlining
of a powerful force to add critical speed
to our homeland security response."
Lt.
Colonel Lori Hennon-Bell, Deputy Superintendent
of Homeland Security, was placed in command
of the new branch by Colonel Fuentes.
"The
Homeland Security Branch enables us to
answer any critical situation with a powerful
and fast response," said Hennon-Bell.
"The streamlined command structure
gives us immediate access to the resources
we need for any incident from a train
wreck with a chemical spill to a hurricane."
A
key component of the Homeland Security
Branch is the 24-hour Command Operations
Center. A command-level officer is always
at this center with the authority to deploy
the people and equipment needed for any
situation. This officer has the ability
to reach beyond those assigned to the
branch and call on additional troopers
from throughout the entire division.
"The
new streamlined unit will be better prepared
to allocate state resources based upon
intelligence and threat information provided
by the Office of Counter-Terrorism and
our federal partners," said Sidney
J. Caspersen, Director of the Office of
Counter-Terrorism. "We look forward
to continued work together to ensure that
the citizens of New Jersey are protected."
The
Homeland Security Branch (H.S.B.) is comprised
of nine bureaus incorporating the most
highly trained, mechanized State Police
units performing a diverse array of services.
They include Arson/Bomb, Canine, Hazardous
Materials Response, Radiological Emergency
Response, Aviation, Marine, T.E.A.M.S.
(tactical unit), Urban Search and Rescue
and many others. There are approximately
1,100 people, including 550 state troopers
in the branch. Additionally, more than
210 members of Task Force One (urban search
and rescue specialists) work under the
direction of the H.S.B.
Previously,
units such as the Arson/Bomb Unit reported
to the Investigations Branch, while Marine
Services and Aviation were under separate
sections of the Field Operations Branch.
This reorganization places the State Police
assets most useful to homeland security
incidents under one command. It also recognizes
the potential impacts of commercial freight
carriers on homeland security and incorporates
operations focused on monitoring the shipping
and trucking industries that are so important
to New Jersey.
"This
reorganization will allow State Police
to coordinate an immediate deployment
of its specialized law enforcement resources
to assist local police in protecting the
state's communities, families and critical
facilities from potential terrorist attacks,"
said First Assistant Attorney General
Edward M. Neafsey. "The realignment
also streamlines the division's ability
to immediately respond to an incident
- whether emanating from a terrorist attack
or a major catastrophe - with its full
array of highly specialized assets."
A
large group of invited guests listened
to remarks by the speakers and then got
a close-up view of some of the equipment
of the Homeland Security Branch. Prior
to the ceremony, the Pipes and Drums of
the Blue and Gold filled the echoing hangar
with traditional bagpipe music.
