Community Corner
$2.5M State Police Marine Station Coming To Lake Hopatcong, Sen. Bucco Announces
The new facility will replace a 70-year-old building, which was a bait shop, serving as a hub for law enforcement and search and rescue.
HOPATCONG, NJ - A new state-of-the-art marine station for the New Jersey State Police and local law enforcement on Lake Hopatcong is moving forward, backed by $2.5 million in funding secured by Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco (R-Morris, Passaic).
The facility will serve as the primary hub for law enforcement operations, search and rescue, and emergency response on New Jersey's largest freshwater lake, which draws thousands of residents and visitors each year.
"Public safety has always been a top priority for me, especially on Lake Hopatcong, one of New Jersey's most treasured recreational destinations," Bucco said.
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"I'm pleased to see this funding now being put to work to bring these long-awaited improvements to fruition, ensuring our State Police and local law enforcement have the tools and support they need to protect boaters, respond to emergencies, and keep families safe."
The current structure has long been considered inadequate. Marty Kane, chair of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation, noted the existing building was originally opened as a bait shop roughly 70 years ago and was never intended to serve as a police barracks.
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"Even with some improvements over the years, it is woefully inadequate for the modern day needs of the troopers who serve New Jersey's largest lake," Kane said. "Efforts led by Senator Bucco to bring about a modern and functional facility will have immediate and broad impacts on water safety and emergency response at Lake Hopatcong."
The investment builds on Bucco's broader efforts on behalf of the lake. Last year, he secured a $250,000 grant for the Morris County Sheriff's Office Marine Unit to purchase two modern patrol boats.
The new marine station also carries personal significance for Bucco, whose late father, former Sen. Anthony R. Bucco, had previously advocated for modernizing the facility and strengthening marine infrastructure on the lake.
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