|
Biweekly Homeland Security Insights for a Safer New Jersey |
|
Recent Agency News
NJOHSP Continues to Distribute Bleeding Control Kits to Houses of Worships
To advance the readiness of New Jersey's more than 6,400 houses of worship (HOW), NJOHSP, with the support of its Interfaith Advisory Council, is providing bleeding control kits to help prevent deaths from traumatic injuries received during an active violent event prior to the arrival of first responders. Large public gathering places can be targets for violent extremists, and places of worship are particularly vulnerable due to their easy access and limited security measures. A person with severe bleeding can lose their life in just a few minutes, making it critical to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. The kits contain basic items used to stop extreme hemorrhages and pneumothorax injuries. They were purchased with U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant funding awarded to the State of New Jersey and are provided at no cost to the recipient. HOW leaders can register to receive a bleeding control kit using the Houses of Worship Distribution Survey.
|
|
|
NJOHSP Participating in New Jersey Civil Service Commission Statewide Job Fair
NJOHSP staff will be on hand to speak to job seekers regarding potential employment and to answer questions at the annual New Jersey Civil Service Commission Statewide Job Fair.
Date: Thursday, August 15, 2024 Time: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Location: Kean University, Liberty Hall Academic Center, Union, NJ
The job fair will provide information and opportunities for individuals interested in pursuing employment in State and local government agencies, universities, and colleges.
|
|
|
FBI Arrests Las Vegas Man Who Threatened New Jersey State Employee, Government Officials |
|
|
On July 23, federal authorities arrested Spencer Christjencody Gear, of Las Vegas, Nevada, after he allegedly threatened to assault and murder federal officials, including judges and government employees in New Jersey, New York, Washington D.C., and Montana. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Gear made phone calls and sent an email threatening to murder eight federal officials between November 2023 and July 2024. Gear also threatened three state employees, including one in New Jersey. Authorities charged Gear with 10 counts of threatening a federal official and 12 counts of transmitting a communication containing a threat to injury. Gear will face trial in September.
Analyst Comment: In its 2024 Threat Assessment, NJOHSP assessed anarchist, anti-government, and racially motivated domestic extremists will exploit the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election to amplify their hostility towards their perceived opponents, including government officials. As the election approaches, domestic extremists may use a variety of tactics to incite supporters to plot and threaten government officials who oppose their ideology. Domestic extremists disseminating violent propaganda online attempt to incite supporters and will call for federal law enforcement officers and election officials to be arrested, prosecuted, and/or executed.
CISA Kicks Off 'Back to School Safety Month'
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) kicks off its "Back to School Safety Month" to highlight resources, tools, and stakeholder events for the education community. These initiatives are designed to enhance security measures and build resilience against various threats and hazards, ensuring a safer future for all. CISA actively works with the kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) to provide information, guidance, technical assistance, and other resources to help K-12 stakeholders reduce their cyber and physical security risk while increasing their resilience and capability. Follow CISA on social media in August as it highlights both cybersecurity and physical security resources for K-12 and beyond. For information on proactive measures the New Jersey Department of Education takes to protect the safety and security of all of its students and staff members, visit https://www.nj.gov/education/security/. For additional resources, visit SchoolSafety.gov.
|
|
|
Extremists Exploit Vulnerabilities at the U.S.-Mexico Border
Anti-government extremists, foreign terrorist organizations, and their supporters are capitalizing on border vulnerabilities by illegally obtaining entry into the U.S., profiting off human smuggling, and plotting attacks against individuals at the border. In March 2024, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified at a U.S. Senate hearing where he warned members about threats from the U.S. border stating, "there is a particular network that has ISIS ties that we’re very concerned about, and we’ve been spending enormous amount of effort with our partners investigating." He said threats from various groups have "gone to a whole other level."
|
White Racially Motivated Extremists Strengthen Ties with European Counterparts
To portray a unified movement with their European counterparts, U.S.-based white racially motivated extremists (WRMEs) travel overseas, rely on propaganda distribution, and remain committed to recruiting like-minded individuals. Several domestic and international WRME groups collaborate using the internet and social media platforms which make it easy to connect with supporters worldwide.
|
|
Apply Now: NJ NSGP and RHSGP Application Period Open
The application period for the New Jersey Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NJ NSGP) and the Reproductive Health Security Grant Program (RHSGP) began July 15, 2024, and concludes September 30, 2024. NJOHSP, through its Grants Management Bureau, administers both programs. The NJ NSGP provides funding to eligible nonprofit organizations for target-hardening equipment and security services. The RHSGP provides funding to eligible reproductive health care facilities, licensed by the State of New Jersey and in good standing, that provide reproductive health care services and determined to be at a high risk of unlawful activity, including acts of violence, property damage, vandalism, harassment, etc. Recipients can use the funding to purchase security services, physical security equipment, preparedness training, emergency planning, and cybersecurity assets.
|
|
|
NJOHSP-Coordinated Training Courses
All NJOHSP-coordinated training courses are posted on the NJOHSP state training calendar. The calendar provides a course description, training location, target audience, and point of contact.
|
|
FEMA, NJOHSP Offering Hunterdon County EOP Workshop for Houses of Worship
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with NJOHSP, is sponsoring a Hunterdon County Emergency Operations Planning (EOP) Workshop for Houses of Worship (HOW) to assist religious institutions in developing comprehensive emergency plans.
Date: Thursday, August 22, 2024 Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Location: Hunterdon County Complex (Building 1), 314 State Rt. 12, Flemington NJ 08822
The program’s primary goal is to build a robust planning team to address various threats and hazards effectively. Participants will learn to create clear objectives and actionable strategies for emergencies. The workshop also emphasizes sharing lessons learned and best practices among attendees. Resources from FEMA, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency, and NJOHSP will be available to support these efforts. This initiative is the result of recently passed State legislation, S-721, which mandates that HOW with a capacity of 500 or more must have an EOP. By attending this workshop, HOW can ensure they comply with the new legislation and are better prepared for emergencies. For more information and to register, download the flyer.
|
|
|
Contact Information
For more information or to share feedback, please contact the Communications Bureau at communications@njohsp.gov.
The NJ Security Spotlight is a biweekly newsletter of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and is intended to provide constituents with important agency updates, publications, and announcements. Please visit njohsp.gov/connect/nj-security-spotlight to read previous newsletters.
Report Suspicious Activity: Call 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ or email tips@njohsp.gov.
|
|
|
|
|