Governor Jon S. Corzine

GOVERNOR CORZINE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS
OPEN STATE-OF-THE-ART EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FACILITY

WEST TRENTON – The Regional Operations Intelligence Center (ROIC, pronounced “Rock�) was officially opened today by Governor Jon S. Corzine, Attorney General Stuart Rabner, State Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Dick Cañas and State Police Superintendent Colonel Rick Fuentes. The cutting-edge building, located at New Jersey State Police headquarters, now serves as the foundation for the state’s homeland security, crime fighting and emergency response efforts.
“This building gives us the best tools available to look at what’s going on, anticipate what happens next, prepare for any possibility and respond when crisis strikes,� Governor Corzine said. “This facility is amazing, but the policies, procedures, and people are what make it work and they all deserve our gratitude and thanks.�

“New Jersey has every reason to be proud of this state-of-the-art facility,� Attorney General Stuart Rabner said. “The people who work here will help protect us against all types of emergencies -- whether man-made or natural disasters.

“The ROIC stands as a testament to the work that law enforcement officers and emergency responders are asked to perform every day,� said Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Director Richard L. Cañas. “It also stands as our commitment to the law enforcement and emergency response communities from this day forward to make that work even more meaningful.�

“The ROIC is supercharging this state’s ability to respond to all hazards and all threats,� said Colonel Rick Fuentes. “From the vantage point of this fusion center, all dangers to New Jersey’s safety can be analyzed and appropriate responses directed. The center will improve our ability to react to everything from terrorism to gang violence to natural/man-made disasters and even major health events.�

The true strength of the ROIC is found in its partnerships. New Jersey’s “fusion center� is the state’s hub for intelligence and includes input and personnel from agencies such as the FBI, US Department of Homeland Security and FEMA; from regional partners such as the NYPD and neighboring State Police; from numerous state agencies; and from New Jersey’s county, municipal and non-governmental partners.

The ROIC is also the home for the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management and the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC). It serves as the command center for all state-led emergency response operations, such as natural disasters, chemical or nuclear emergencies, or terror alerts. During emergency response missions, the ROIC serves as the gateway for situational information and requests for aid. It allows a coordinated and measured response by matching requests with resources and personnel run by federal, state and local agencies.

The center’s cavernous support room will serve as the focal point of multi-agency response during times of large crises. At more than two stories high with 8,644 square feet of floor space, the support room is set up with 100 interdependent workstations that can be assigned to any configuration of agencies involved in an event. Each computer can take the assigned agency’s input and send it to a 32-foot-wide by 12-foot-high video wall that keeps all partners apprised of the situation. This screen can show many different inputs at one time. Overlooking the support room from the second floor is the executive conference room from which the governor and top-level decision makers can view the situation and have videoconferences.

Even during calm times, the ROIC’s intelligence activities are continually operating. The Watch Operations component provides situational awareness to state leaders and real time tactical intelligence to the operators in the field. A key element within Watch Operation is the NJSP Call Center, which handles nearly 70% of the 9-1-1 cellular/ mobile calls emanating from within New Jersey. The information received by this center is pushed to all elements of the ROIC for identification of trends and patterns, as well as operational deployments.

The ROIC’s analytical capability is the key to Intelligence-led Policing that the NJSP has championed. Analysts from all partnering agencies collaboratively link bits of data creating “actionable� intelligence that guides tactical maneuvers in real time, or creates crime-fighting strategies for the long term. It is through a robust analytical component that law enforcement has the best chance of averting major criminal acts, and responding appropriately to rapidly escalating emergencies to prevent them from getting worse.

The high-tech new facility was first envisioned in 1999 after Tropical Storm Floyd deluged much of New Jersey causing significant flooding and property damage, including the old EOC in the basement of State Police headquarters. When current additions are complete, the building will cover approximately 65,000 square feet including a new 9-1-1 Call Center. It is built to withstand 125 mph sustained winds, and is resistant to earthquakes measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale.

The ROIC was designed with energy efficiency in mind. It is heated and cooled by a geothermal system using 100 wells that are each approximately 400 feet deep that started paying for itself the instant it was turned on. This new system will eliminate 89,000 pounds of carbon dioxide annually, the most common “greenhouse gas�, versus using conventional energy sources. Additionally, a photovoltaic system mounted on the roof will generate electricity from sunlight producing one-third the total estimated electricity needs for the facility on an annual basis, further reducing electricity use and costs.

Using the benefits of the NJ Board of Public Utilities’ Clean Energy Program, the net installation cost for the facility was reduced over 43%, and tradable Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) will contribute an estimated $1.2 million in revenue over the 25-year system warranty. With Solar and RECs it is estimated that New Jersey will avoid $2.4 million in energy costs over the life of the system. The cost of the construction of the facility and its systems came to a total of approximately $24 million.

Earlier this morning in a private ceremony, the building was dedicated to Tpr. II Philip Lamonaco #2663, who was shot to death in the line of duty on December 21, 1981. Donna Lamonaco, widow of the slain trooper, and other family and friends of fallen troopers attended the private ceremony at the front of the new facility. Part of the inscription carved in a stone memorial honoring Lamonaco reads, “The investigation, prosecution and conviction of the individuals responsible for his murder was grounded in interagency collaboration and information sharing, the core mission of this center.�