FREEHOLD— Monmouth County today showcased protective equipment for law enforcement officers, firefighters, hazardous materials response and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel purchased with more than $1.6 million in federal funds distributed by the state. The equipment is designed to help the county’s first responders better protect the public in the event of a terrorist-related incident or other major catastrophe.

The protective equipment was on display at a press conference at Monmouth County’s Office of Emergency Management, where a class of police officers was also being trained in the use of full-face respirators or ‘‘gas masks."

"The protective equipment here today is part of a multi-million dollar investment in preparedness gear for local first responders — the people who will serve as Monmouth County’s front line of protection in the event of a terrorist attack or other disaster," said Attorney General Peter C. Harvey.

"The equipment is here today because of the commitment of Monmouth County officials, working in partnership with the state to procure it," said Harvey, who chairs New Jersey’s Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force, the cabinet-level body that oversees state homeland security policy and coordination efforts. "Monmouth County is to be commended for making sure that the first responders who serve the county are better prepared than ever to deal effectively — and safely — with a terrorist incident or other catastrophe.

"Another thing we are demonstrating today," Harvey said, "is that New Jersey and its counties are making the most of our federal funding. Unfortunately, that funding is not commensurate with the risks New Jersey faces based on its location, its dense population and the large number of critical infrastructure sites we have that are of national importance. We will continue the efforts led by Governor McGreevey and our Congressional delegation to seek funding for New Jersey that is appropriate to meet the risks we face."

"We are working very hard at the state, county, local and national level to prevent possible terrorist attacks," said New Jersey Office of Counter-Terrorism Director Sidney J. Caspersen. "We are also working hard in preparing to respond in the event of a terrorist-related disaster. Monmouth County is setting a sound course to ensure that law enforcement officers and first responders are properly equipped and trained to respond to potential threats and incidents."

Monmouth County Prosecutor John Kaye said, "First responders are ordinary people doing extraordinary work, serving on the front line and protecting all of us against the potential effects of terrorism. By doing their jobs, they have the greatest capability to save lives and reduce casualties. What we are demonstrating today is our county’s commitment to serving and protecting its citizens and the citizens of the state."

The majority of Monmouth County’s first responder equipment on display today was purchased with funds from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2003 grant monies and FFY 2003 supplemental grant monies provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) and distributed to the counties by the state according to general planning decisions made by the state’s Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force, Attorney General Harvey said. The county also recently submitted its plans to spend an additional $452,789 in FFY 2004 federal homeland security funds that are being distributed by the state. The state is currently reviewing the counties’ spending plans for the FFY 2004 grants.

"The necessity for statewide and regional approaches to homeland security based on principles of mutual aid cannot be stressed highly enough," said Harvey. He noted that Monmouth County is part of a newly formed four-county Central Region Planning Initiative, which is receiving a $1 million planning grant from the state’s FFY 2004 homeland security funds. This program, which will be coordinated by the state along with county and municipal leaders from Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset and Monmouth counties, is designed to respond to — and prevent — terrorist attacks in a coordinated manner across jurisdictional lines through regional planning efforts. The Central Region is one of five regional homeland security planning areas in the state that have been designated by the Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force.

Harvey said the state’s Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force required that each county form a County Multidisciplinary Working Group and charged the working group with developing funding plans centered on protecting — and responding to potential incidents at — sites where threats or hazards had been identified within the county. The county working group includes, at minimum, the County OEM Coordinator, County Executive Director, County Fiscal Officer, County Prosecutor, County Police Chiefs Association representative, County Fire Coordinator/Fire Marshal, County EMS Coordinator, and the hazmat or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) team representative.

In all, New Jersey is distributing more than $29.2 million for first responder equipment, hazardous material response and target hardening from FFY 2003 ODP funds and FFY 2003 supplemental ODP funds. This year, the state will be releasing $32.5 million directly to the counties in FFY 2004 ODP funds.

On the state’s part, since January 2002, the McGreevey Administration has spent nearly $248 million in state funds for homeland security efforts, and the Governor’s FY 2005 budget includes an additional $94 million. While New Jersey continues to spend additional funds to protect its citizens and communities, the Bush Administration’s budget proposed for FFY 2005 cuts funding nationally for first responders by 18 percent – reducing New Jersey’s total state and local share from an anticipated $55.4 million to $44 million.

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