Skift Take
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation that requires certain public venues to submit emergency plans to law enforcement agencies to prepare for mass casualty and active shooter events.
One of the adages of meeting professionals is to plan for the worst and hope for the best. A detailed, up-to-date emergency action plan is a must-have. New Jersey has enacted legislation requiring certain public venues to submit emergency plans to law enforcement agencies to prepare for mass casualty and active shooter events.
“This legislation will enhance security requirements for New Jersey’s public venues and places of worship so that law enforcement agencies can be best prepared to handle threats and respond to emergencies,” said Murphy
This bill requires sports and entertainment facilities capable of seating more than 5,000 people to annually prepare and maintain an emergency operations plan in coordination with the appropriate local fire, law enforcement, and emergency response agencies. The plan must be submitted to the chief law enforcement officer who serves the municipality where the facility is located.
“When responding to an active shooter or mass casualty incident, officers are forced to make a variety of critical decisions. The time for developing a policy is prior to the event, not during, which is why the signing of this legislation is so crucial,” said Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “The requirements set forth in this bill will enable law enforcement agencies to minimize response times to critical incidents, eliminate threats, and provide aid to those in need.”
“Preparedness is key for a swift response to any emergent situation. Putting building blueprints in the hands of law enforcement in addition to local fire and emergency response agencies ahead of time ensures our coordinated response is as effective as it can be, should the worst-case scenario happen,” said Assemblywoman Britnee Timberlake.
One of the biggest stadiums in New Jersey is MetLife Stadium. Home of the New York Jets and New York Giants, it has a capacity of 82,500 and is not only popular for football games but for meetings and corporate events as well.
