Camden FOP To Fight Camden City Police Department Layoffs
By Steve Tawa
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) – Camden's Fraternal Order of Police and community leaders promise to fight the plan to phase out the city's police department and convert it into a county-run Camden Metro Police Division.
During a two-minute long special meeting, Camden City Council voted 6-1 to approve a resolution to lay off all of Camden's 270-uniformed officers, effective April 30th. (see related story)
Community activists like Gary Frazier are against the move, but earlier attempts to put the metro concept to a citywide vote were blocked in court.
"Then allow for us to be able to have a vote on it to decide what kind of policing we're going to have in the city of Camden. Where's the democracy for us as residents?" says Frazier.
Former Councilman Ali Sloan-El rails against regional and state politicians involved in setting it up.
"This is all a scam and it's run by powerful people you do not see," says Sloan-El.
He says the architects of the plan are using "imaginary numbers" related to the metro force's budget and staffing levels.
"This metro force will not happen, not on the people's watch," says Sloan-El.
