BELLEVILLE, NJ — The great drone mystery of 2024 has officially arrived in Belleville.
Earlier this week, Belleville Mayor Michael Melham attended a mayor-only briefing at New Jersey State Police headquarters. The topic? Drones.
Since first appearing nearly a month ago, nightly sightings have been reported across the state, including Belleville, where police have been fielding calls from concerned residents.
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Some news reports and internet pundits have been circulating copies of a state-level “intelligence” bulletin with instructions for people who come across downed unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
Two of the points that are included in the bulletin were also mentioned by Melham in a recent interview with Fox News.
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Citing guidance from the state, Melham said that the town’s OEM team has been instructed to immediately call a bomb squad if they come across any downed drones. In addition, firefighters have been told to wear hazmat suits. See Related: Don’t Approach Downed Drones, Call Bomb Squad, NJ Says
The FBI Newark, New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness are asking the public to report any information related to drone sightings to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. People can also submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
Most of the sightings have been happening from dawn to dusk. Federal investigators say they haven’t been able to figure out where the drones are coming from – but have claimed they aren’t a threat. Read More: NJ Drone Mystery Update: Feds, White House Downplay Sightings
Federal authorities have added that many reported “drone” sightings in New Jersey appear to be other aircraft, casting doubts on thousands of tips from people who say they’ve spotted strange lights in the sky. Read More: Frustration Over NJ Drone Mystery Builds In Essex County
Their explanations haven’t held much weight with increasingly frustrated residents and local officials, who are demanding more transparency from federal agencies such as U.S. Homeland Security and the FBI.
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Melham, one of more than 500 mayors who were invited to this week’s briefing, called it “disappointing to say the least,” adding that it could have all been covered on a Zoom call.
“That said, we have a job to do in Belleville,” Melham continued. “After all, if the state won’t act, we must. Therefore, this afternoon I’ll be convening a Belleville OEM meeting with our respective agencies. I’ll also be calling on my fellow mayors to join me in calling on [Gov. Phil Murphy] to issue an executive order implementing an immediate temporary ban on all personal and commercial drones.”
According to Melham, the mayors at the meeting were told that the drones do not belong to the state of New Jersey or any local government.
The mayors were also told that the drones are not federal property, Melham said – although he added that some people at the meeting questioned that claim.
The lack of knowledge about the origin of the drones means “clearly, there’s need for concern,” he said.
Melham said the mayors were told that the drones are being spotted around critical infrastructure, including military facilities. Read More: 1 NJ Military Base Says ‘No Drone Incursion,’ Not So For 2 Others
In Belleville, there’s a hospital (Clara Maass Medical Center) and a reservoir, where local police will be ramping up their presence, Melham said.
Echoing what many people have been claiming online, Melham said the drones are large – up to six feet in diameter – and operate in a coordinated manner. When police helicopters have approached, the drones have turned off their lights and left the scene, making it hard to track them down.
“We’re being told that people in New Jersey must be crazy – that they’re only seeing small aircraft,” the mayor said. “That is just not the case.”
Melham also touched on a question that’s been rising among some critics – “Why not just shoot them down?” – saying that the drones are in federal airspace and are therefore under federal jurisdiction.
“We have absolutely no authority to shoot down any aircraft,” he stressed.
For now, the mayors remain in the dark about what’s happening, Melham said.
“We have no idea where they’re taking off from, no idea we have no idea where they’re landing,” he said. “No idea at all. We have no idea who’s behind them.”
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