The Boston Marathon Bombings were "evil" and "cowardly," but they were not a 'wake-up call.'

Investigators work around the boat where Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev was found hiding after a massive manhunt
Investigators work around the boat where Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev was found hiding after a massive manhunt (Darren McCollester/Getty Images)
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That's the opinion of New Jersey Attorney General Jeff Chiesa. Testifying before the State Senate Budget Committee, the state's top law enforcement official said State Police Superintendent, Col. Rick Fuentes called him 10 minutes after the attacks and officials immediately sprang into action.

"In the aftermath of the explosions on Monday, we convened an immediate response team which included the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the state police and the Attorney General's Office," says Chiesa. "Our state police bomb unit was placed in a state of readiness, as were state police aviation crews, tactical teams and search and rescue assets."

Members of the committee and everyone else in attendance observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Boston bombings. The tragedy was clearly the focus of the hearing.

"This evil and cowardly act and the loss of life it caused reminds us that we must remain vigilant about the threat of terrorism," says Chiesa. "While the bombing in Boston serves as a tragic reminder of the need for preparedness and vigilance it should not be viewed as a wake-up call……We have been and remain highly attuned to the threat of terrorism. Our resources are out there in full force every day working to protect New Jersey's communities, our critical infrastructure and most vitally, our citizens against potential terrorist acts."

The Office of Homeland Security and the State Police continue to keep Cheisa, Governor Chris Christie and all partner agencies updated on an almost hourly basis. The AG says no one at the Department of Law and Public Safety has ever lost sight of the fact that in a post-September 11th world one of the primary missions is to protect New Jersey against terroristic threats.

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