The Newsmagazine of Long Beach Island and Southern Ocean County

By Gina G. Scala | on August 17, 2022

Banner planes are as much a part of a beach day on Long Beach Island as sun, sand and sea. It’s the reason the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness opted to get the word out about its Secure the Shore campaign by using the advertising technique recently.

The program focuses on Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth and Ocean counties by supporting relationships with local, county, state and federal law enforcement as well as improving the public’s awareness of the “See Something, Say Something” campaign, according to the NJOHSP.

“We believe the banner messaging would be most effective in areas of mass gathering,” said Maria Prato, a representative for the NJOHSP. “So, for the remainder of the summer – while beach attendance is at its peak and outdoor concerts and festivals are in full swing – NJOHSP will use these aerial banners to educate and remind the public to be vigilant, to pay close attention to their surroundings and to report the red flags, should they see any.”

If the general public sees something, they should report the suspicious activity to local law enforcement or to NJOHSP’s Counterterrorism Watch Desk at 866-4-SAFE-NJ or at tips@njohsp.gov.

Among the things to watch for are implied or expressed threats, surveillance, cyberattacks, and questioning of employees beyond what is considered normal curiosity. When reporting behavior or activity, the public should include the five W’s in their information: who, what, where, when and why they are suspicious, according to tips from the NJOHSP.

“If current events have taught us anything, it’s that bad actors look for opportunities to strike where mass gatherings are happening,” said NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran earlier this summer. “Community engagement and suspicious activity reporting, alongside a united and equipped law enforcement front, is critical to the continued safety and security of New Jersey.”

Throughout the summer season, the NJOHSP has assisted shore communities with maximizing their security by collaborating with businesses, law enforcement partners and local officials; developing security strategies for public venues with limited security; deploying counterterrorism detectives to special events; visiting boardwalks and businesses; training lifeguards and beach patrols on identifying suspicious activities; and administering federal funding for target-hardening equipment. —G.G.S.

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