Mercer Times

The Miller Center for Policing and Community Resilience at Rutgers University recently hosted a working group on drone sightings in the northeastern United States and Canada. The meeting, co-hosted by the New Jersey State Police, gathered nearly 50 law enforcement professionals to address public concerns and regulatory issues related to drones.

Participants exchanged information about drone sightings, counter-drone capabilities, and public sentiment. Discussions included potential threats to critical infrastructure and events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with its final set for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Paul Goldenberg from Rutgers Miller Center and LTC Joe Brennan (ret.) of NJSP led the discussions. Among those present were Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden and Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy.

John Farmer, director of the Miller Center, emphasized the importance of standardizing approaches to address drone sightings: “It is critical to cut through the noise and hysteria, standardize our approaches, and develop common operating procedures for addressing these unprecedented drone sightings.”

Colonel Patrick J. Callahan of NJSP highlighted collaboration: “Unmanned Aircraft Systems technology has revolutionized law enforcement, but its true potential is unlocked through the sharing of information.” Colonel Christopher Paris from Pennsylvania State Police echoed this sentiment: “Collaboration is the foundation of effective law enforcement.”

Greg Ehrie from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey noted: “Our infrastructure is part of a larger interconnected network that spans county and state lines, so it is critical to develop common standard operation procedures across jurisdictions.”

John Russo from the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police stressed transparency: “We remain committed to this group and will continue to advocate for more transparency and better legislation in regard to this issue.”

Sheriff Michael Mastronardy appreciated the chance to clarify facts: “It was a great opportunity to meet face to face with public safety officials to discern facts from fiction.” Sheriff Shaun Golden acknowledged leadership efforts in addressing drone challenges.

Lt. Colonel Matt Hanley from Virginia State Police valued collaboration along the East Coast: “By exchanging intelligence and best practices, we enhance our collective ability to effectively address this emerging public safety challenge.”

Agencies represented included state police departments from Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia; local police departments; federal agencies such as FAA; research institutes; security initiatives; sheriff’s offices; urban area security initiatives; homeland security offices; police associations; port authorities; Canadian mounted police; and Rutgers Miller Center.