FREEHOLD – The Monmouth County Board of Commissioners is calling on Governor Phil Murphy to declare a “state of emergency” as answers are sought about the mystery of the unidentified drones reported over New Jersey, including the coast.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, a day before the commission meets in open session today, Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone said the board was acting in support of Sheriff Shaun Golden, who had previously called for such an emergency declaration.
“On behalf of the entire Board of County Commissioners, I have been in constant contact with the sheriff, prosecutor and members of law enforcement regarding the drones sightings throughout Monmouth County,” Arnone said. “We fully support the sheriff’s call for Governor Murphy to declare a state of emergency, as well as his call for Congress to immediately pass federal legislation that allows state police and sheriff’s offices to address this issue nationwide to tackle.”
Whatever the nature or motive of the drones buzzing overhead, Golden says recreational drones have created challenges for law enforcement and emergency response teams.
Nighttime drone activity makes it difficult to identify operators and assess potential risks, including illegal surveillance, interference with critical infrastructure and aviation hazards, the sheriff explained.
During a closed-door briefing on the drones at state police headquarters in Ewing Wednesday, lawmakers were told that researchers were unable to electronically detect the drones, which were first spotted over New Jersey on Nov. 18 and have been spotted every night since. with anywhere from four to 180 sightings per night.
The large drones, with a diameter of 6 feet, fly only at night, from sunset to 11 p.m., and stay awake for six to seven hours at a time, lawmakers were told.
Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at elarsen@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Drones NJ: Monmouth commissioners want state of emergency declared
