More than 600 police officers could be laid off by the end of the month, a survey released today says. Nearly 617 police officers could lose their jobs before fiscal year 2011 begins July 1, with dismissals are expected in all of the state’s 21 counties — and in a range of towns, according to the survey by the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association. A state PBA news release notes, for example, that Franklin Township in Somerset County could let eight officers go; Mansfield Township in Burlington County, four; Passaic in Passaic County, 18; and Pleasantville in Atlantic County, 6. Those municipalities represent suburban and urban areas with varying demographics.

“We all realize that we are facing challenging economic times and that municipalities must make difficult decisions,” said Anthony F. Wieners, state PBA president. “However, the breadth and depth of the layoffs our front-line officers are facing is shocking, and the impact these layoffs may have on local public safety is very troubling.”

The survey also looked at police layoffs from January through May and found 67 officers have lost their jobs as a result of current economic conditions. Those layoffs occurred in communities such as Stafford Township in Ocean County, Cedar Grove in Essex County, and Egg Harbor Township in Atlantic County.

Last year, 20 percent of those responding to the survey said they could have layoffs. This year, more than 50 percent said they faced layoffs.

“We are very concerned about the impact these layoffs may have on public safety,” Wieners said.

He also said that if Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed 2.5 percent property tax cap is enacted, more layoffs could follow next year.

The survey was conducted during the last week of May and includes data from 315 communities. The state PBA represents officers in 423 of New Jersey’s 566 municipalities.

State PBA spokesman Jim Ryan said the organization represents about two-thirds of the state’s approximately 21,000 municipal police officers. Northjersey.