Camden, NJ, one of the most dangerous cities in the United States, plans on getting rid of their entire police force, and placing their burden on the County. The move will save the city millions of dollars.
Under the plan, reported on FoxNews and other media outlets, the city will be under the jurisdiction of the Camden County Police, and will in fact increase officers on the streets from 270 to about 400.
The department has been under the control of the state since 2005, when a power struggle between then-Mayor Gwendolyn Faison and the department prompted Faison to ask the state to take over. That arrangement is set to expire.
The move is obviously being criticized by some – including police union officials, though Governor Christie was supportive of the idea, according to reports.
“A county police force that has a reasonable contract, and that’s going to provide a huge increase in the number of police officers on the streets here in Camden, is a win for everybody,” Christie said at a recent event at Rutgers-Camden University, where he signed a reform bill for higher education, FoxNews reported. “I’m willing to put my name on the line for this concept.”
Should Lakewood save millions in tax dollars by doing the same?
should , but deff. wont. Im sure that we will hear all types of reasons why not to
The Lakewood Police Department is the best, these Officer’s know the streets of Lakewood and the diverse people that live here, I can’t see it any other way, They know us.
WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE CRAZY WE HAVE A GREAT POLICE FORCE
why waste time fighting about this, lets just bring the county in for 24 hrs and you just watch everyone in this town vote this idea into the garbage! The county sheriffs do not know our streets and nor will they be able to learn them either since there are rotations and sheriffs wont stick around our local street for decades. This town will not be their home base so they will clash with everyone here in this diverse town. Cute idea but NOT gonna happen and should never happen. Although I would agree that the entire county or state for that matter be under one leadership like the NYPD with different pricincts. This access to information would allow for our officers to keep our streets that much safer!
It will never happen, ocean county will not even bother with the idea.
if anyone has ever been to Camden they would know that it’s literally one of the most dangerous cities in the country – never mind state! there would be shootings going on without a cop in sight-that’s why they resorted to that solution. It was a killing zone! Since Lakewood has been having such an increase in violent crime with so few police, it would make sense to do the same.Lakewood may have a great police force, but realistically the crime rate and mv violators are too numerous for them to handle.
Its sad to see that narrow minded people would even speak of such a thing. Maybe we the LPD officers should go out and make revenue for this poor cash strapped town. A town that has doubled its population, residences, schools, traffic. So more tickets mean less tax payer burden.
Chas V’Sholom! What a harebrained idea!
The Lakewood Police force is really very qualified. I do wish though that outside criminals would have more of a fear to mug people or break into homes in Lakewood. I remember years ago when this stuff that is happening here now happened in Williamsburg NY. When the residents had enough they beat a couple if hoodlums within an inch of their lives. And THEN it STOPPED! So while the cops are good here the perception out there is that they are busy playing hide and seek on the road pulling over someone in the wrong lane.
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!
Chief Lawson & LPD are the BEST! There isn’t a single reason why we would want to c”v get rid of them!! Please tell me this post is a just a joke! In bad taste, might I add.
LPD = Love Lakewood Police Department! <3
When I was growing up in NJ Camden was a crime infested eyesore. It has not changed much. I have told many a frum Jew to be careful when visiting the aquarium…it is an incredibly dangerous place. Now that they won’t have a police force, the county police probably won’t even feel safe answering the calls that they receive. Please, if anything can be learned from this, remove the aquarium from your travel plans.
great idea!!!!
dosen’t make sense that it’s gonna save any money! you have taxes that go to the county, which will definately go up -to pay for these new officers! and I’m sure all the other cities in that county will not let that happen to fast
if you do that i’m gonna need more than a “pray for me” bumper sticker!!!
Not gonna happen!!!
If the sheriffs department had a patrol division they could help the local departments out. You don’t need to create a hole new department.
This article and its suggestion is obviously satire. I believe the entire state should be policed by the LPD. NJ would then be the safest place in the world – and its population the most understood and represented.’
Kudos to our wonderful Police Dep. and the terrific example they exude for all to learn from.
Its just a way for the rest of the municipalities in Camden county to subsidize the poor management and fiscal responsiblity of the Mayor and council of Camden. They are calling it a County police force but the only municipality signed on is the city of Camden. How can you double the amount of qualified officers and save millions. Oh it will save the city of Camden Millions but will cost the County Millions
This is hysterical…… ocean county doesn’t have enough people in the corrections department to cover the shifts in the jail with the new wing open which means the corrections officers have mandatory overtime shifts so how could anyone possibly think the ocean county sheriffs department could do better than the LPD ?
It is a sad day for the residents of Camden today ..they will lose their entire police force at the hands of a mayor that thinks the county should bear the burden of this crime stricken town. Shame on the Mayor & Town Council of Camden. This is going to hurt the citizens and the future of Camden..I am sure those officers that may come in will no know the people, the streets, and especially the criminals that frequent the town..THAT IS A SHAME.
The makeup of our town is a very unique one. I do not think a county police force will appreciate its nuances
If this was to happen in Lakewood although it will probably never happen, the town might as well shut down. The kids will lose out, the residents will lose out and most of all the township will end up paying more into an already strapped county system. No one can handle Lakewood like the officers and dispatchers you have here. NO ONE!! They grew up here they lived or live here and most of all they know everything about this town. I hope it never comes to that. I would lose my personal attachment to the town and seeing those officers in blue driving around makes me feel a little better every time I see them. Yes its a hard job but if you don’t like hard jobs..well you shouldn’t be in the field..Its a shame what that Mayor did to Camden..Just a SHAME
Support Lcsw more shomrim patrols!!
Even if there are flaws in the Lakewood Police Department (like which department doesn’t have any flaws?) I still love them and would never want to get rid of them.
For those of you who want the County to take over, Ocean County doesn’t have a police force and the Sheriff’s department doesn’t have enough manpower to handle Lakewood.
If want to have crime like Camden then go ahead. we have a great force that does a great job and I do not know who writes these titles
Thank you LPD for being a great police dept. You guys are awesome.
Camdens broke, Lakewoods not. End of story.
why not increase the police force in order to cope with Lakewood’s situation?
Ocean County does not have a Patrol Force, no County Police. The Sheriff’s do not want to get out of their cozy courtrooms, and only a select few work in CSI. Plus in this diverse community, you will have to smooze over a larger group of people on the county level.
The shame of it is that there are talks going on right now. It’s all about State and Local Government. So yeah I know it sucks. But be ready Lakewood, Newark, Camden, Trenton because it’s in the making. Blame your State and Local Government.
#27: No, but its taxpayers are.
You have cops in LPD that dont do anything. they drive around for 10 hours in the car and are NOT pro active. that’s the problem
Sounds like a terrible idea.
LPD you’re great!!
Whos gonna stop the nightly break ins?
Be careful out there. There is crime in Lakewood, but it is not like Camden. Camden is where criminals run to hide after their crime.
Lakewood has enough talent to better manage the crime issue, but every law enforcement entity depends on residents and technology to help.
Residents need to be vigilant, aware, and suspicious of situations that just do not look right. They need to be active in the community and report their suspicions.
Mayor Juleano understood that if NYPD took care of the little things, the big things would take care of themselves, because, it usually is the same people that tend to disregard the law.
Lastly, cameras do work. They tend to improve behavior, because people know that cameras are in force. Word soon spreads through the criminal element that you cannot get away with crime in Lakewood.
just do it already
great idea
Great Idea. It saves us money and puts more officers on the ground!!
WHY SHOULD’NT WE DO IT???????
hey Ben….u do not know anything
That’s the last thing anyone should think of. The Lakewood Police Department is among the best protection we have. A town without cops would be unsafe and risky. We need our cops.
there’s nothing to talk about…at the moment. let’s wait 10 years and see if it worked before we consider copying this experiment. i predict it will flop!
How about freeing up LPD by hiring some officers to just write traffic tickets? Having grown up with many LPD officers I will say that they are a great bunch who care about this town. Anytime I’ve needed them they have been here quickly and have acted courteously (same for the first aid).