Newark a likely site for homeland security copter

State Police want separate, armed chopper after medevac unit is shifted to Somerset

The State Police have their sights on Newark for the location of an armed homeland security helicopter, said the head of the State Police aviation bureau yesterday, a year after a similar helicopter for medical rescues left the city for an airport in Somerset County.

Capt. Richard Arroyo said he originally had considered including a homeland security helicopter at Somerset Airport in Bedminster, in addition to the Northstar Medevac that was moved there from University Hospital in Newark a year ago.

But after a negative reception from residents who blamed the medevac helicopter for ruining the township's rural ambiance with noise and pollution, Arroyo said he scrapped the idea of having a second helicopter for law enforcement.

Instead, Newark became his choice for the aircraft, which aids in the capture of fugitives, other law enforcement duties and homeland security surveillance.

"Newark is a good location for the homeland security mission," Arroyo said yesterday, declining to say where the helicopter would go, and when it would begin flying from the location for security reasons.

Essex County officials said the Northstar Medevac has been sorely missed since its departure from Newark, and welcomed the possibility of having another helicopter back in the city.

"I just recently heard about it. I don't know the full details, but it is a great idea to put it there. I can give you multiple reasons," said Assemblyman Frederick Scalera, deputy coordinator for the Office of Emergency Management in Essex County.

Scalera said the helicopter was needed to watch over Newark Liberty International Airport, one of 96 areas of concern identified by the State Police for homeland security surveillance around the state, commuter hubs, highways and industrial plants in northern New Jersey.

Northstar Medevac had flown out to the airport after it piggy- backed homeland security missions onto its emergency rescue flights out of Bedminster. But officials said they were convinced a helicopter solely devoted to homeland security would better serve from Newark.

"I don't really believe our terrorist friends are going to go to Bedminster anytime soon," said Newark Deputy Mayor and state Sen. Ronald Rice (D-Essex).

"If I'm going to do the bombing, I'm going to go to the Jersey cities, the Newarks, or the New Yorks," Rice said. "I'm not going to be playing out in Somerset County with a bunch of cows."

Objectors to the medevac operating from Somerset Airport in Bedminster have accused the State Police and officials from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey who run medical operations on the aircraft of not being forthcoming when they first proposed the helicopter's relocation in 2004.

The helicopter was promoted as an emergency medical rescue aircraft that could perform better from Bedminster, because of its central location in the state. But Arroyo also told The Star-Ledger in December that homeland security surveillance missions also were being added, to get the most out of the aviation bureau's current resources.

Arroyo and other officials denied they downplayed the law enforcement duties, and insisted they had been sensitive to community concerns they have faced in Bedminster.

A group known as the Bedminster, Bridgewater, Branchburg Concerned Citizens Coalition, which believes Somerset Airport is being primed to become a full- fledged State Police flight facility, has filed four lawsuits to get the medevac out of the area.

Bedminster Township Committeeman Kurt Joerger said he has never been convinced the State Police helicopter in town was a rescue helicopter, and did not appreciate having a second one for law enforcement proposed for Newark.

"Talk about inefficiency, and a waste of taxpayers' money," Joerger said.

Scalera, also director of Essex County's Hazmat Program, said the State Police plan was "only a draft being put on the table," for now. "It's something they're researching and looking at," he said.

A location for the helicopter, for now, remained the only concern for Scalera and other officials. "I just want to make sure the location is right for everybody," said Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr.

Officials said they preferred the helicopter be based either back at a roof-top helipad and hangar facility atop University Hospital, at Newark Liberty Airport or at a brownfields site.

Arroyo said the plans for Newark could change. "It really hasn't been formalized," he said. There also are other sites under consideration for other homeland security aircraft, but again he wouldn't disclose details.

"I don't want to give up the farm," he said.

The aviation bureau's current focus has been to replace its aging fleet. The medevac program has four helicopters that are about 20 years old each. One is based in Bedminster to serve northern New Jersey, another serves the south from a hospital in Voorhees, and two back-ups are kept at Mercer Airport.

A fifth, used Sikorsky 76B was recently purchased for $3.7 million, about $18 million cheaper than if it was new, according to Arroyo.

Limited finances for years kept the State Police from replacing its medevac fleet. But an increase from $1 to $3 in the surcharge on state motor vehicle registrations signed into law by Gov. Richard Codey last month will boost funding, and possibilities for new aircraft in the future.

"With what we have now, we can respond to any emergency," said Arroyo, boasting that medevacs have not had an accident in more than 30,000 missions. "And with the new equipment, we'll do even better," he said.

Ralph R. Ortega may be reached at rortega@starledger.com or (908) 429-9925.

Ralph R. Ortega
Staff Writer