When Everything’s a Drone: How Law Enforcement Dealt with the Crisis in NJ

New Jersey Drone Incursions: Lessons Learned in Public Safety UAS Operations

The National Public Safety UAS Conference in Busch Gardens, VA, on March 11-12, sponsored by DRONERESPONDERS, featured a critical session on drone incursions in New Jersey. The discussion, led by experts from law enforcement and counter-UAS operations, shed light on the extensive efforts made by multiple agencies to determine what, if anything, had actually occurred. While initial reports of drone activity prompted significant response, analysis still suggests that the vast majority of sightings were misidentifications of manned aircraft.

Coordinated Response Across Agencies

Whatever prompted the drone frenzy in New Jersey, the situation took an exceptional expenditure of resources and effort from law enforcement and other state and federal agencies to deal with.  Michael Ward, Unit Head of the New Jersey State Police Target Hardening Unit and Co-Chair of the DSPTF-UAS Subcommittee, alongside DJ Smith, Counter UAS Tech Agent for the Virginia State Police, and Sgt. Brett McCormick, Squad Leader of the cUAS Response Squad, emphasized the need for interagency collaboration in managing drone-related incidents. The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness played a key role in the response, alongside the Domestic Security Preparedness Task Force (DSPTF) UAS Subcommittee.

McCormick highlighted the necessity of partnerships, stating, “You need multiple players. You need partnerships because the airspace is too big for one agency to understand. You have to reach out to federal agencies and local agencies.” Smith echoed this sentiment, advocating for an expanded common operating picture to detect potential threats earlier.

The Effectiveness – or Not – of Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)

One of the key discussions centered on the effectiveness of TFRs in controlling drone activity. Data from the Super Bowl parade in New Jersey illustrated their limitations, with over 120 drone incursions despite the restriction. The panelists pointed out that changes in DJI’s geofencing policies have made it even more challenging to enforce no-fly zones.

Additionally, the introduction of Remote ID technology could help improve tracking capabilities. Smith noted that while it provides valuable data, it does not include personally identifiable information (PII). Authorities are pushing for state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) permissions to access more detailed data for enforcement purposes.

Investigating Drone Sightings: Data Challenges and False Reports

The investigation into reported drone incursions lasted 11 weeks, with intelligence gathered from multiple sources, including:

• Suspicious Activity Reports (SARS)
• Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN)
• New Jersey State Emergency Operation Center (NJSEOC)
• Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS) and ADS-B overlays

Despite the volume of reports, the vast majority turned out to be false, underscoring the importance of refining intelligence-gathering processes. The experts acknowledged the risk of data being misinterpreted as it moved through different levels of law enforcement. “You can’t have the data play telephone and change by the time it gets down to the PD level,” one panelist cautioned.

The NJ DroneGate Incident: Public Concerns vs. Reality

Initial reports of drone activity at Picatinny Arsenal, Trump National Golf Course in Bedminster, and various locations in Somerset County triggered significant concern. Authorities quickly mobilized, deploying intelligence teams and surveillance equipment. Aeroscope monitoring revealed that the activity did not match typical commercial drone flights.

Further analysis suggested that suspected “dark drones” were not using standard RF communication and were observed in coordinated swarm formations of four to five drones. However, despite deploying counter-UAS assets, authorities were unable to confirm the presence of rogue drones. Heat mapping of reported sightings revealed a significant overlap with inbound and outbound manned aircraft flight routes, supporting expert opinions that most of the sightings were misidentifications.

Key Takeaways: The Importance of Education and Coordination

The investigation underscored several key lessons for public safety agencies:

• Interagency Communication: The need for seamless information sharing between federal, state, and local agencies to prevent data silos.
• Public and Law Enforcement Education: Training first responders in drone identification, deconfliction, and reporting procedures is essential. New Jersey has since launched statewide training for all 24 counties.
• Accurate Threat Assessment: Proper classification of intelligence is critical to avoiding unnecessary alarm and ensuring efficient resource allocation.
• Public Outreach: Most drone-related incidents involve careless or uninformed operators. A QR code linking to FAA guidelines was suggested as a simple way to educate the public on drone regulations.

While initial concerns over potential drone incursions led to a robust response, the analysis suggests that many sightings were misidentifications rather than evidence of coordinated unauthorized drone operations. The session at the National Public Safety UAS Conference highlighted the ongoing challenges in distinguishing between real threats and public misperception, reinforcing the need for continued education, improved technology, and enhanced coordination among agencies.

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Read more:

• Clearing the Air on New Jersey’s Drone Sightings
• FBI and DHS Debunk New Jersey Drone Reports: Misattribution Blamed
• Understanding the New Jersey Drone Sightings: Separating Fact from Fiction