Lakewood shomrim awarded $275,000 in federal funds through rep. Chris smith’s budget earmarks

LAKEWOOD, N.J. – Lakewood’s volunteer public safety group, the Lakewood Shomrim, will receive $275,000 in new federal funding to modernize its radio communication infrastructure, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) announced this week. The funds are part of a broader $23.8 million package Smith secured for Ocean and Monmouth counties through congressional earmarks included in the newly approved federal budget.

The Shomrim, a long-established community organization that works closely with the Lakewood Township Police Department, Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, and Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, plays a crucial role in assisting law enforcement with missing persons searches, emergency response, and public safety patrols. The new funding will help upgrade the group’s radio systems to improve reliability, coverage, and interoperability with local and county emergency agencies.

“These funds will go toward critical law enforcement equipment and technology upgrades,” Smith said in a statement. “The nearly $24 million in federal funding, which I secured, will greatly improve the safety, health, and quality of life of Ocean and Monmouth County residents.”

Support for regional infrastructure and safety

Beyond Lakewood, Smith’s appropriations include a mix of infrastructure, environmental, and humanitarian initiatives throughout the region. Projects funded under the package range from drinking water and flood control improvements to domestic violence support services and human trafficking prevention programs.

Among the largest allocations:

$1.75 million for Manchester Township to build a new water treatment facility to address PFOS contamination.
$2 million for the Ocean County Utilities Authority to upgrade wastewater infrastructure.
$480,000 for the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office to expand its vehicle fleet.
$540,000 for the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office to enhance emergency communication systems.
$5.64 million for Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to construct a Secure Test Aviation Research Hangar.

Federal investment aimed at improving quality of life

Smith said the funding reflects close collaboration with local governments and nonprofits to identify high-impact needs across both counties. “These critical projects will bring innumerable benefits and improvements to the people of Ocean and Monmouth counties,” he said. “I am honored to have played a role in securing the funding they need to bring these important initiatives to life.”

No specific funding was directed to Jackson Township in this round of allocations, though officials said more local projects could be considered in upcoming federal budget cycles.

For Lakewood, the Shomrim funding represents a major investment in community safety infrastructure—one that township officials say will strengthen real-time coordination between volunteers and emergency personnel during large-scale incidents, missing persons cases, and severe weather events.

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