Council reviews public-safety training contracts, emergency operations upgrades after nearby shooting

City public-safety officials briefed the council on multiple items including a proposed $172,000 contract with Tomahawk Strategic Solutions for tactical training for Jersey City Police officers, desktop-computer purchases for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and other maintenance and software contracts.

The public-safety director said the Tomahawk contract (state contract) would fund training largely paid from federal training forfeiture funds; the $172,000 figure would cover twice‑a‑year training for the Emergency Service Unit (ESU) with a full two‑week program for each ESU member (described as 20 days total per member) and up to four active‑shooter drills. The director cautioned the full $172,000 likely would not be spent because coordination and available sites typically limit the department to fewer drills than planned.

Staff answered council questions about where drills can be staged — the director said training has been held at both the new public-safety building and the building housing the Health Department, as well as at schools and cultural institutions; priority for new locations would go to sites that have not yet received training. Council members asked whether training could be scheduled at an affordable-housing site; staff said they had not received a request but could pass it to the training coordinator.

Council members raised concerns about an earlier nearby shots‑fired incident in the vicinity of city buildings and requested written lockdown protocols and improved communication for municipal employees. The director and other staff said building security followed lockdown procedures, security staff prevented entry until the area was cleared, and police responded. Staff said employee on‑site services were provided and that the city could disseminate written protocols to council and hold on‑site review sessions for affected employees.

Other public-safety items presented included a $125,925.54 contract for replacement desktop units at the EOC (funded by a FY2024 UASI grant), a $305,032 contract for Target Solutions learning/training and asset‑tracking software for fire and EMS training, and an extension of an existing security-guard contract for up to three months while the city reviews RFP responses. Public-safety staff said the guard extension is to ensure continuity of services while a new vendor is selected and that the city has funds temporarily encumbered in relevant operating accounts.