By David Madden

CAMDEN (CBS) – The Camden city clerk will be presented this afternoon with a petition calling for a voter referendum on plans to convert the city’s police force into one under the control of Camden County.

Leaders of the Citizen’s Community Committee for Public Safety, aided by the Fraternal Order of Police, gathered more than 3,000 signatures in about a month.

FOP President John Williamson says they only needed about 900 to get the question on the June primary ballot.

“The people were so much against going to a county police force and even not being able to have their voices heard that we knew we were going to reach the goal,” Williamson said.

The bid is meant to put the brakes on Camden being the first municipality to join in what would be the first countywide police force in New Jersey.

City, county and state officials have all given their blessings to the concept and efforts now center on putting specifics to paper.