Smooth transition crucial after 270 officers laid off in 'deadly' NJ city

The New Jersey Civil Service Commission gave its approval to lay off the entire 270-member force by April 30

The Philadelphia Inquirer

CAMDEN, N.J. — With a date certain now set for the Camden Police Department to go out of business, it becomes even more crucial to avoid any reduction in public safety in one of America's deadliest cities.

The plan to shut down the department cleared a final hurdle last week when the New Jersey Civil Service Commission gave its approval to lay off the entire 270-member force by April 30.

That gives Mayor Dana L. Redd the green light to replace the force with one run by Camden County. Now Redd must master a smooth transition that ensures no lapse in police protection for Camden's 79,000 residents.

Important details have yet to be worked out, including an agreement with the state to pick up as much as $6.5 million in start-up costs so county taxpayers are not stuck with the tab.