New County Police Officers Begin Training On Camden City Streets
By Mike DeNardo
CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) -- Officers from the new Camden County police department that will replace the Camden City police force have begun training on the city streets.
Two dozen officers from the Camden County Metro Division are now learning from former Camden City officers who know the streets, says Freeholder Director Lou Cappelli.
"These officers will now begin their training on the streets of Camden. It's an eight-week program in which they will get to know the residents of this neighborhood," he explained.
Mayor Dana Redd says the training will coincide with a crackdown on quality-of-life issues.
"The abandoned vehicles, the abandoned buildings, lawns that are grass-overgrown where drug dealers hide their drugs," she elaborated.
Some residents of Camden's Parkside section have their doubts, though.
"Might do a little something. It ain't going to do too much. It's going to be like any other 'hood," the man said.
The County Metro Division takes over patrols from the city police on April 30th.
