One of America’s most dangerous cities is planning to eliminate its entire police department, laying off all 270 of its cops.
The city of Camden has been struggling with a budget deficit for years. In 2011, it was named the poorest city in New Jersey. In an attempt to save millions, its officials decided to get rid of the entire city police force. Instead residents of Camden will have to rely on the new police department, which will be operated by Camden County. And here is the secret for saving money – the new Metro Division of the Camden County police will not have collective bargaining.
“This is a creative way to break a union and break the financial obligations you have to a union,” Scot DeCristofaro, spokesman for the Camden Fraternal Order of Police, told National Public Radio.
Camden city officials say that the transition is necessary to be able to afford the costs of making the city safer.
The city of Camden has more crime than 97 per cent of cities in the US. The city hosts 1,846 violent crimes per year, with an average of 37 murders, 73 rapes, 713 robberies and 1,023 cases of assault. In 2004, Camden was named America’s most dangerous city, taking the title away from Detroit.
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