June 2026
NJSACOP URGES STATE TO FUND MOBILE BALLISTIC SHIELDS FOR SCHOOLS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND THE INTEGRATION OF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INTO SCHOOL SAFETY FRAMEWORK
The NJSACOP says the shields would protect officers as they move toward victims, enable safer evacuation and rescue operations, reduce officer casualties during the initial response window and boost public confidence without altering a school’ s culture or environment.
On cost, the association characterized the systems as a responsible long-term investment, noting they are modular and repairable, with individual components replaceable as needed.
The NJSACOP testified before state lawmakers on May 11, urging them to fund and deploy mobile ballistic shielding in schools, hospitals, courthouses and other public buildings as part of S. 569, sponsored by Sen. James Beach( 6 th Dist.).
The equipment represents a critical gap in active-threat response, said NJSACOP President Andrew Caggiano, the Montville police chief, and NJSACOP Second Vice President Giacomo Sacca, the Elizabeth police chief.
NJSACOP called for an investment in such shielding as the Rolling Rescue Mobile Ballistic Shield. It is a system that provides full head-totoe ballistic protection, including transparent NIJ Level IV glass, while remaining narrow enough to navigate standard doorways and corridors.
“ Active-shooter and active-threat events are defined not by static defense, but by movement— movement toward victims, toward danger, and through interior spaces such as hallways, stairwells, and entry points,” the association said in its testimony.“ In those first minutes, officers are expected to advance without adequate ballistic protection, often facing riflecaliber threats.”
The association noted the concept is not new to New Jersey lawmakers. Legislation previously identified bullet-resistant mobile ballistic shields as appropriate school-security infrastructure under a proposed county-based pilot program, though that bill expired without passage.
Proponents say the equipment is designed for use by patrol officers and school security personnel— not just specialized tactical teams— and can be stationed at building entrances and deployed immediately during an incident.
Addressing concerns about the militarization of schools, the NJSACOP pushed back on that characterization, comparing the shields to fire suppression systems and hardened entry points.“ Mobile ballistic shields are not militarization— they are protective infrastructure,” the NJSACOP said.
The association urged the committee to consider funding and deployment models that would place the equipment in locations where it is most needed, including schools, hospitals and other public facilities.
The Association also testified in support of legislation that would establish a three-year pilot program integrating student mental health services and school safety infrastructure in Essex, Mercer, and Camden counties. The bill takes a proactive approach— shifting the model from reactive policing to early identification and intervention, NJSACOP officials say.
“ The most effective school safety strategy is one that prevents crises before they require a police response,” said Chief Caggiano during his May 11 testimony.“ This proposed legislation invests in the front end of that equation. When students receive timely mental health support, schools become safer, students thrive, and law enforcement can focus resources where they are needed most.”
The bill establishes a pilot program that places on-site mental health services— including individual counseling, group services, and crisis intervention— directly within schools in three high-need counties. The bill also funds coordinated school safety supports, including training, equipment, and integrated response capability, aligning mental health programming with the broader safety infrastructure schools depend on.
NJSACOP urged the state Legislature to strengthen the bill with the following amendments to maximize accountability and real-world effectiveness:
1. Formal Law Enforcement Coordination Protocols— Require structured coordination between schools, mental health providers, and local law enforcement agencies, consistent with applicable confidentiality laws.
2. Standardized Screening and Measurable Outcomes— Incorporate evidence-based student screening tools and define clear program metrics, including reductions in disciplinary incidents, police calls for service, and crisis interventions. Clear benchmarks are essential to evaluate the pilot and justify statewide expansion.
3. Workforce Flexibility— Address provider shortages by permitting partnerships with community-based clinicians, telehealth delivery models, and flexible staffing arrangements.
New Jersey Police Chief Magazine / 44