Gottheimer announces $3.7 million in federal public safety funding for Sussex County towns
NEWTON, N.J. (Sussex County) — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced Friday that he secured approximately $3.7 million in federal Homeland Security funding for Sussex County law enforcement agencies and first responders to improve emergency communications, upgrade equipment and expand public safety training.
Gottheimer, D-5th District, said the $3.68 million investment will help replace aging equipment, improve communication between local police departments, the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office and New Jersey State Police, and strengthen emergency response capabilities throughout the county.
The funding will support public safety projects in Andover Township, Branchville, Frankford Township, Franklin Borough, Hamburg, Hampton Township, Hardyston Township, Lafayette Township, Montague Township, Newton, Sandyston Township, Sussex Borough, Vernon Township and Wantage Township, along with countywide initiatives through the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office and Sheriff’s Office.
According to Gottheimer’s office, the funding will help move Sussex County toward a more unified emergency communications system, allowing law enforcement agencies and first responders to communicate across municipal boundaries during emergencies.
“When something goes wrong, the people who show up are the people standing right here. Today, I am proud to announce that we have clawed back $3.68 million in federal Homeland Security funding from Washington for Sussex County first responders, families, and towns. I will always get the backs of our law enforcement, our firefighters, and our first responders,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Co-Chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus and member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.
Sussex County Prosecutor Daniel M. Perez also praised the federal investment.
“We know that Josh Gottheimer is the claw back king,” said Sussex County Prosecutor Daniel M. Perez. “He works day in and day out to claw back federal taxpayer funds for first responders in Sussex County. You may not know this, but every day Josh wakes up and says ‘how can I redirect federal funds back to Sussex County? How can I claw back taxpayer dollars from Moocher States?’ Then he goes to work, reaches across the aisle, and delivers results for our families.”
Breakdown of public safety funding
According to Gottheimer’s office, the funding allocations include:
- Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office — $300,000: Establish a countywide interoperable radio system connecting municipal police departments, New Jersey State Police and the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office. Funding will also support protective gear and equipment for the Sussex County Rescue Task Force.
- Sussex County Sheriff’s Office — $200,000: Purchase 700/800 MHz radios compatible with the state’s upgraded communications system.
- Andover Township Police Department — $200,000: Install a public safety video network system and provide training.
- Branchville Police Department — $200,000: Upgrade radio communications equipment and provide training.
- Frankford Township Police Department — $150,000: Upgrade radio communications equipment and provide training.
- Franklin Borough Police Department — $200,000: Enhance the department’s video network and purchase a virtual-reality law enforcement training system.
- Hamburg Borough Police Department — $150,000: Fund a public safety video security project and training.
- Hampton Township Police Department — $150,000: Upgrade radio communications equipment and provide training.
- Hardyston Township Police Department — $200,000: Install a public safety video network system and provide training.
- Lafayette Township Office of Emergency Management — $200,000: Upgrade communications equipment at the Emergency Operations Center to improve coordination and maintain operations during emergencies, along with training.
- Montague Township Police Department — $200,000: Upgrade radio communications equipment and provide training.
- Newton Police Department — $100,000: Upgrade radio communications equipment and provide training.
- Sandyston Township Police Department — $150,000: Upgrade radio communications equipment and provide training.
- Sussex Borough Police Department — $200,000: Upgrade radio communications equipment and provide training.
- Vernon Township Police Department — $200,000: Purchase active-threat response equipment and provide training.
- Wantage Township Police Department — $150,000: Upgrade radio communications equipment and provide training.
The announcement also includes several previously announced public safety investments in Sussex County, including $500,000 for security upgrades at the Andover train station, $200,000 for a real-time intelligence platform in Newton and $30,000 for a thermal imaging drone in Vernon to assist with nighttime searches and emergency responses.
Gottheimer’s office also highlighted $50,000 in counterterrorism training funding for every police department in New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District, including departments in Sussex County.
According to Gottheimer, the investments are intended to reduce the financial burden on municipal and county budgets by using federal funding for equipment and training that might otherwise require local taxpayer support.
His office said approximately $21 million in Homeland Security grant funding has been secured this year for law enforcement, first responders, houses of worship and nonprofit organizations across Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties.
Gottheimer also said federal funding returned to the 5th Congressional District has increased by more than 357% since he took office, representing an average savings of more than $750 per household in the district.
