NJOHSP Teams with Public Safety Partners to Set Statewide Active Shooter Response Standard
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, in collaboration with NJOHSP and other various public safety stakeholders, including the New Jersey State Police, Department of Community Affairs, Department of Health, and Department of Corrections, has announced a new statewide initiative requiring all New Jersey law enforcement agencies to develop standardized policies for active violent events.
Directive 2025-2 ensures all agencies are equally prepared and mandates policies include specific criteria for managing active shooter situations, such as threat neutralization and victim rescue. Agencies must coordinate using the National Incident Management System and establish command structures for emergencies.
"NJOHSP is proud to have contributed to this directive alongside our public safety partners to address active violent events statewide," said NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran. "New Jersey remains one of the most proactive states in the nation because of our strong culture of collaboration and preparedness. The Active Shooter Incident Management course establishes a framework for multi-disciplinary response and early integration of law enforcement, fire, and EMS to save the greatest number of lives."
The directive also requires protocols for family reunification and mandates a training plan featuring basic incident management and tactical courses. County prosecutors will oversee compliance, with all agencies needing to submit their policies by January 9, 2026.
The directive emphasizes preparedness for critical locations such as schools and hospitals, with a focus on immediate access and coordination with institutions. Gov. Phil Murphy previously invested $6.5 million in digitizing school blueprints to aid first responders.
NJ SHIELD Recognized at Global Conference for Excellence in Public Safety Collaboration
 Left to right: Serge Muyters, First Chief Commissioner, Politie Antwerpen, GSN Vice President – International Affairs, Virginia State Police Capt. Austin White, NJOHSP's Erin Henry, and NJSP Capt. Edward Colleton. Capt. White presented a Global SHIELD Network Unit Citation for excellence to Henry and Capt. Colleton.
Representatives from New Jersey SHIELD, a collaborative effort between NJOHSP and the Regional Operations and Intelligence Center, attended the Global SHIELD Network Conference in Seattle, Washington, in early October. The Global SHIELD Network is a law enforcement and intelligence network immersed in public/private-sector partnerships designed to prevent crime, terrorism, and improve public safety.
More than 150 attendees at the conference included SHIELD affiliates from around the U.S. and the globe, including Canada and Belgium, as well as private-sector security partners. Topics included emerging terror threats, cybersecurity, human trafficking, public/private data sharing, and unmanned aerial systems.
NJOHSP Director of Preparedness Charles Ambio, and a Global SHIELD Network executive board member participated on a panel discussion – "Data Sharing Strategies to Prevent Terrorism Through Public/Private Collaboration."
NJOHSP Risk Management Bureau Chief Erin Henry and New Jersey State Police (NJSP) Captain Edward Colleton received a Global SHIELD Network Unit Citation on behalf of New Jersey SHIELD for excellent performance in the community and in support of the Global SHIELD Network.
NJ Cybersecurity Summit Focuses on AI, Zero Trust, and Collaboration
The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) and GovTech, in partnership with NJ-GMIS, held a New Jersey Public Sector Cybersecurity Summit on October 7 at the Trenton War Memorial in Trenton, NJ.
The event focused on empowering information technology (IT) security professionals with the insights, strategies, and tools needed to strengthen cyber resilience amid growing cyber threats and cybersecurity challenges. NJOHSP Director Laurie Doran delivered opening remarks while NJCCIC Director Michael Geraghty (above) discussed the state of cybersecurity in New Jersey.
The program explored the evolving threat landscape, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), the need for proactive defense strategies, the foundational role of IT in cybersecurity, the implementation of zero trust in public sector organizations, and best practices for protecting critical infrastructure and operational technology.
Presenters also addressed ways professionals can work together to establish effective cybersecurity programs with limited resources, the dual-edged role of AI in cyber defense and threats, and practical guidance for incident response and recovery. Each discussion emphasized innovation, collaboration, and readiness to meet the complex cybersecurity challenges facing New Jersey's public-sector organizations.
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NJCCIC Showcases Achievements of High School Interns at 'Cyber Day' Event
 Students participate in the CTF competition during NJCCIC's Cyber Day.
As part of "National Cybersecurity Awareness Month," the NJCCIC showcased the outstanding achievements of its 2025 high school summer interns during "Cyber Day" at the Hamilton Technology Auditorium in Hamilton, NJ, on October 18.
Basic and Advanced Cybersecurity interns, representing 72 New Jersey high schools and home-schooled students, presented research projects and demonstrated cyber escape rooms and Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions they developed. Through their dedication and passion for cybersecurity, both Basic and Advanced interns expanded their cyber knowledge and gained practical real-world experience.
Students also participated in a CTF competition, aimed at promoting cybersecurity education and skill development. Seven teams attempted to solve various cyber challenges.
This year's winning team included students from Monmouth Regional, New Providence, and Monroe Township high schools
Apply Now for an NJOHSP 2026 Spring Internship Program
 NJOHSP is currently accepting applications for its unpaid, in-person 2025 Spring Internship Program, which runs from January 20, 2026, through April 10, 2026. The last day to apply for the spring internship is 4 p.m., October 31, 2025.
Interns must be available Monday through Friday within the business hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for eight consecutive weeks and are limited to no more than 21 hours per week.
For more information and to apply, visit NJOHSP's careers web page.
NJOHSP Plans to Open Federal Grant Program Application Period Soon
 In anticipation of the upcoming application period for the federal Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), nonprofit organizations preparing to apply are encouraged to:
- Review the FFY2025 NSGP Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
- Ensure vulnerability risk assessments are current, including required photographs of the areas for which security enhancements are being pursued.
- Obtain a Unique Entity Identifier through SAM.gov. The number is needed at time of application.
For more information and instructions, view NJOHSP's grants web page.
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