Recipe for Disaster: Notoriously Violent City to Break up Its Police Force
- Posted on August 9, 2012 at 7:52pm by
Becket Adams
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Infamous for being one of the U.S.’ most dangerous cities, with 39 homicides this year alone, things are about to get a little scarier in Camden, New Jersey.
“The cities experiencing a high homicide rate, and it’s not acceptable,” said Camden Mayor Dana Redd. “We want to make sure our citizens are safe.”
The city has worked for two years to shutter its police department and create the Camden Metro Police Division, which would be run by the county.
Redd on Wednesday said a plan detailing a massive police layoff would be put forward by the end of August, according to CBS Philly. This means all 270 current officers will be out of work by the end of the year. However, Redd points out that out-of-work cops will be eligible for the almost 400 estimated new positions.
“We’re having a problem internally with the existing force,” said Redd. “We rehired everyone, all the 168 officers that were laid off. We’re having a high absentee rate so we cannot continue with this trend and expect to keep our city safe.”
However, president of the police union John Williamson says the crime problem was caused by police layoffs dating back to last year and that the new plan will make things much, much worse.
“Not only are you playing with people’s futures, you’re playing with the public’s lives,” said Williamson, adding that the plan is “untested and risky.”
“I say that bringing 300 new people who don’t know the city, don’t know the people, is a recipe for disaster,” he said.
Watch the CBS Philly update:
The police union is considering legal action.
“There are several legal actions going on against the city,” Williamson said. “One involving fighting this county metro plan, another that is dealing with the petition initiative that is filed in the appeal court.”
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Comments (95)
Slayer
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:59pmThe media are only covering this story to get Chicago – now declared the most dangerous city in the WORLD – off the front page. That‘s Obama’s community organizing, for ‘ya!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/13/somalia-mogadishu-peace_n_1593194.html
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:51amApparently the cops were not doing too much good there anyways. It is better for the people to look after themselves. We are all responsible for our own safety. If you live in this crap hole, you probably are not that bright in the first place.
Report Post »BryanB
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 1:39amJust wait untill the county gives Camden only two officers to patrol their streets. Because theres not going to be any 300 new officers hired, all the local governments in New Jersey are broke…………
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 6:21amChicago, Boston, Camden, NYC, Washington DC, are all poster cities for the effectiveness of stricter gun control. Sure am glad I live in Texas and that we have repricocity with over 35 other states who will honor our Concealed Carry License.
Report Post »Duchylivin
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:16am@Bii Rowland.
I agree with your statement but I think it is deeper than that. I think the common denominator for all of these cities is 30+ years of continuous emphasis on rights over responsibility, tolerance of a drug culture, and Democratic leadership that has put it’s own short-term success over the long-term survival of their community.
I’ve seen it. I live 10 minutes from Detroit.
And before someone thinks I am just blaming Dems; know that I think the Republicans also have been putting short-term success over log-term health. It is just that Republicans are less likely to tolerate and cover-up lawlessness and sloth.
Report Post »Independent4233
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:41amhidden_lion
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:51am
“Apparently the cops were not doing too much good there anyways. It is better for the people to look after themselves. We are all responsible for our own safety. If you live in this crap hole, you probably are not that bright in the first place.”
Everything you wrote is true.
Affirmative action placed so many unqualified people into police slots nothing was ever done efficiently, plus there has been rampant corruption among the rank and file. Too, as the city spokesman says, so many people were absent from work on any given day effective protection was non-existent.
Newark is in the same situation.
As this economic trend continues downward, and as the crime in the streets continues to accelerate ala flash mobs, beatings, thefts, murders and robberies, empire America will be reaching critical mass in all urban areas across the country. One of the last measures that will be taken as a stop gap desperation of sorts is to call out the National Guard. Many experts are predicting a military presence in most ALL urban areas eventually in a last ditch effort to keep the rabble from taking over. Politicians in New Orleans and elsewhere have already requested their presence.
We’re transitioning into a Western version of Zimbabwe and South Africa and/or Brazil where the rabble own the cities at night, and the wealthy live in gated communities with armed guards around the perimeter.
Report Post »Leader1776
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 10:05am@Duchylivin
Being originally 10min from Detroit ……… born and worked in the Detroit area …….. I will go farther and say it was the Dem mayors from the 60′s forward in Detroit that did Detroit in. As a ‘Model Cities’ city Detroit was, indeed, a model of how Dems were going to move large cities into the 21st century. Model Cities did nothing for economies, businesses, the private sector. Instead they injected social programs, entitlement programs, general dependency. The country as a whole is now seeing what will happen to the entire the country (i.e. OWS) because of the fruits of these leftest whack-jobs. Some blame the auto companies in Detroit. And, yes, the auto companies …. and unions ….. do share some blame. However, that doesn’t explain what happened to the other large cities that did not have the auto companies to blame.
Their real hopeless change came 50 years ago. BHO is just the latest little leftest man carrying on what, now, has become a tradition. Some tradition.
Report Post »VinnieSquawker
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 10:23amKudos to all previous comments. I came back to the States after 11 years in the socialist hell-hole known as Europe. Originally from the NE, there were really only two choices for me – Texas or NC. Went with NC – open carry, not as hot. Philosophically I should have went with Texas. Still, a carry weapon ensures my family is always safe. The sign on my property “We don’t call 911″ sends a very clear message, as well. I only visit states that have reciprocity with NC carry permits. The others aren’t worth it and will not get my tourist dollars.
Report Post »nocommie
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:44pmMy Aunt just passed away,lived just outside Camden.She left me her house,The corrupt state of NJ IS TAXING ME 16% or aprox 26000.00 because I am her nephew and not her son.I strongly recommend that people leave That corrupt state and let the animals have it.I drove through Camden and it’s virtually lawless.Do not go there for any reason
Report Post »Old_Bones
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:42pmIs that a picture of a street in Camden? Looks like a third world ghetto.
Report Post »ComingUnglued
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 6:35amCamden is not indicative of NJ
Report Post »starman70
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 8:32amThere are many wonderful neighborhoods and towns in New Jersey. Unfortunately, ghetto prone cities detract from the state’s image.
The state‘s taxing policy is driving out businesses and wealthy individuals so as they leave for states where they aren’t unduly penalized, the tax base shrinks and these ghetto prone cities go broke. Of course, union pandering Democrats have exacerbated the problem by agreeing to outrageous health and retrement packages for public workers so now none of these major cities can afford to keep even basic services.
Report Post »Larry E
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:50pmNew Joisey’s wunnerful, only da cops and da crooks gots guns so da crooks can do what dey wants.
I‘m sure glad I live in a state where being armed isn’t considered a crime against nature, and criminal offenses are low too. Wonder why that is?
Report Post »Old_Bones
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:17pmLol, squeeze your nuts when you speak Joisey!
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:26pmYou guys got it all wrong. The cops just need different uniforms, that’s all. They need to dress like ghosts.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:22amNo no… you got it all wrong, what the cops need are lots and lots of Chevy Volts.
Report Post »MDECKER
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:32pmWhat is a recipe for disaster is, officers with a union mindset, banging in sick or just not showing up to do their job.
Report Post »SolitudeBliss
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:42pmJust what I was going to post, thank you.
Report Post »Conservative2
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:20pmJust another reason the public Unions just don’t work for America! Corruption at it’s best!
Members are forced to be members, forced dues deducted, unions push the Progressive Democrat, the Progressive Democrat pushes the Union. What a circle of Corruption!
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 3:45amDon’t cry coppers unions eat their own and I think you are about to be eaten.
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:28pmThe citizens should arm and prepare to defend themselves. I have no problem with gang-on-gang violence, but when innocents become victims, it’s time to turn the tables.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:02amYou can’t arm yourself in NJ.
Report Post »florida32
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:16pmThere is no need to ponder what our future holds if we stay the current course. We need to look no further than decaying cities like Camden to glean what America’s future holds. Wake up America and reclaim your existence.
Report Post »billrow
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:57pmAll “chocolate” cities.(a term coined by mayor Nagin) end up looking like Mogadishu.
I wonder why no one will address the elephant in the room.
Report Post »sweetgold
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:37pmWhat about Atlanta, Georgia ????
Report Post »billrow
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:29pmIt is on it’s way.
Report Post »Displacedsoutherner
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 12:05amAtlanta is a city of 400,000 people in the center of a metro population of about 5 million; the city itself hangs by a thread supported by a relatively few residential property tax payers and still fairly active downtown and northern suburbs business centers. It’s a city of conventioneers, corporate headquarters, huge law firms and welfare housing. If ever there were a city of us and them it’s Atlanta, with a royal ascendancy of one black mayor after another, each as connected and crooked as the last.
Got a beef with City Hall, you’re a racist; think your property tax bill is too high, racist again. Dare to ask why 2/3 of the black public school teachers failed their (very basic) teaching competency exams..there you go again, your racism is out of control, plus the tests were racist as well. Who knew math was racially biased.
And I don’t think many would be surprised to see only the very occasional glimpse of a white face in any city office. If you think Obama ushered in the “now it’s time to get ours” era, you should visit Atlanta. With John Lewis as the congressman for most of the city for years it’s pretty clear the “rich, white property owners” have very little representation in Washington.
As a former cash source for the city‘s wasteful existence I have to say I’m glad to turn that job over to someone else.
Report Post »Magyar
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:53pmThe odds of winning Power Ball are better than getting a CCP in NJ and look at what’s happening– citizens cannot protect themselves. Look at Chicago— more deaths in one weekend than a week in Afghanistan!
If OWEbama is re-elected, HE will come for YOUR guns! Guaranteed! If that happens, imagine the unimaginable!
Report Post »workin4alivin
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:28pmHow about a county ordiance requiring everyone to open carry guns….. you will see a slowdown in the homicide rate.
Report Post »piper60
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:27pmI am SO glad I don’t live there. So they are trying to screw the current cops over while changing the name of the dept and having the county take over? What could POSSIBLY go wrong? Whooooooo boy.
Report Post »TreeTrimmerJim
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 11:20pmAny chance the city union contracts including benefits take a bath? Follow the money.
Report Post »DangerMike
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:47pmDoesn’t anyone proofread these articles for grammar and spelling?
Report Post »rc30
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:54pmIts out of the box for sure. It may work with people out side the city. People who know people owe favors. Just saying
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:00pm@DANGERMIKE>>>>> Don’t take up valuble comment space with crap about grammer, fool!!
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:35pmNo they don’t. It’s unusual to find a story with only 3 or 4 mistakes
Report Post »Magyar
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:02pmAs an English major—I’m no longer shocked— it’s just another example of the value of public education in America…..
It’s taken less that 50 years……It’s the dummying of America—
Thomas Jefferson: Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 10:32pmDaggumit, Mike! It‘s good that you’re going out of your way to correct grammar, but for goodness sake, point out what it is that you’re correcting, and do it in context with the story. that way you get two birds with one stone – you awaken the writer, and you teach the ignorant, who are more apt to complain out of fear of being corrected.
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:01amWarning correcting grammer and spelling will make you a Anal retentive person who is offended by a picture, Symbol or depicting character of religion.
Report Post »GET A LIFE !!!
ranchoazulmt
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 3:33pmYou would be better served in your anal capacity to send the email to the editors. Check the about section for the appropriate person. They do answer the emai. Why they might even hire you!
Report Post »Brentley
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:44pmTwo Problems no one addresses with crime. FIRST and most IMPORTANT. GOD being taken out of everything. That is FIRST AND FOREMOST. SECOND NO strict punishments. Guy commits a murder we send him or her to prison for awhile. They get out do it again. EXECUTION will stop some crimes but they need to take place sooner rather than 40yrs after the fact. KEEP PRISON TERMS LONG and keep prisoners busy. I mean real busy no computers no paid for education quit treating them better than vets. GOD FIRST STRICTER PUNISHMENTS and CRIME GOES DOWN….oh yeah and GIVE the law abiding citizen THEIR SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS. and crime goes down.
Report Post »Stephen Markovich
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:22pmYep!
Report Post »exfire
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:42pmGee.. what ? Another city going down the tubes ? What does Camden, Chicago and New Orleans have in common ?…..DEMOCRAT MAYORS
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:07amDon’t forget Detroit.
Report Post »cookcountypatriot
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:29pmwhy do cops need unions anyway?
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:10amBecause some lack the qualifications and work ethics to be employed on their own merit.
Report Post »Duchylivin
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:20amBecause they work for the shifty, lying, back-stabbing politicians we elect.
Report Post »AmericanFightingMan1
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:28pmBroke is broke is broke. The rope frays. Someday it will break. The ponzi scheme the swindlers and frauds have tricked us with becomes apparent as people wake up. Lots of desperate people. More and more. Willing to fall into the welcoming arms of big government. The surest way to marxist utopia is to ruin the economy and move desperate people into the fold. This is not accidental.
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:13amA union contract is mightier than a empty bank account.
Report Post »ENIGMA28724
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:26pm“expect to keep our city safe”? They laid off 168 experienced officers, then rehired them. Now they want to lay off 270 officers, then hire 400 more. Doesn’t seem to be working very well so far. Perhaps this is a back door way to avoid having to renegotiate union contracts. It would be much simpler to allow concealed carry by law abiding citizens and let them police the city, so to speak. Most of the time, all the police can do after violent crime is to clean up the mess and take a report.
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:35pmOr arrest a citizen for having a gun and protecting himself, still alive but not much better off
Report Post »Bobaz
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:26pmThere are some cities in America that should be bulldozed into a pile and then burned to the ground. Camden NJ, Detroit MI, and Oakland CA are just three of them.
Report Post »Chromo200
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:19pmHeck no .. the rats will move into new areas and ruin that neighborhods.
Report Post »Stephen Markovich
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:23pmMiami, Chicago, Gary Indiana, sanfrancisco, Seattle,
Report Post »hatchetjob
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:52pmBurn Washington D.C. today!!!
Report Post »Duchylivin
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 7:29amActually Detroit has been bulldozing itself for years. The problem has been finding the money for all the buildings that need to go.
And the new fire policy (as of July 1, 2012) is to let buildings burn to the ground.
Mayor Bing hopes to consolidate the population into the two or three still viable neighborhoods and then sell the rest as…. farmland!
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:18pmWild west returns to New Jersey!
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:25pmNot really, In the wild west guns were not banned from good citizens to protect themselves.
Report Post »db321
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:25pmIt is not the Wild West – in the Wild West everyone had guns – in NJ only the bad guys have the guns.
Report Post »Inlandmar2
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 9:44amCamden has been like the wild west since the 80s. Nothing new here. The New Jersey State aquarium is located in Camden along with the USS New Jersey. Several years ago, the Camden Police Department set up a “safe” corridor to access these attractions. Tourist were warned not to stray off the route. Camden has had a string of corrupt politicians running the city. The Police Department has been underfunded for years. A few years ago, a Camden Cop friend of mine borrowed my Mossberg 500 Tactical shotgun on several occasions when he was working “open vice” in Camden. The city could not afford enough shotguns to go around. Camden is a lost city. You would think that Camden would be desirable real estate, with Camden on the water and being located closer to center city Philadelphia than most of the City of Philadelphia. But, alas, local corruption and the State of New Jersey‘s attitude have destroyed many projects that would have greatly improved Camden’s appeal. The corrupt politicians did not want to displace the “poor” people because they would have no place to live. I guess in the minds of the corrupt politicians, it’s better to let them kill each other off. Detroit is not far behind.
Report Post »Mutiny
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:11pmLOL, yeah NJ gun laws protecting its citizens. Atleast we have a GOP nominee that is pro guns and doesnt think gun laws protect us.
Oops, nevermind.
Report Post »http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzYTdM9b5F4
Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:11pmAbsenteeism? Nah. Good thing the union will get involved. The union will make sure we are all safe.
Report Post »Altair
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:09pmAnd little by little, the Collapse continues.
After the Great American Enema, we’ll get back to Old America. You know, like the illegal alien in the White House sneeringly remarked, “… back to the 1950s.”
Report Post »kaydeebeau
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:30pmat least in the 1950′s crime was low, the black family was still intact and poverty and unemployment among black families was negligible, education was infinitely better, we all shared a common set of values and ideals as to what America meant.
And shut up if you want to comment about the racism – that was horrific and unacceptable, But as CL Bryant’s daddy told him – I didn’t go through what I went through so you could be black, I did it so you could be free.
How free are the blacks now? They are just on a different plantation….Runaway Slave…..
Report Post »SCREW-WINDOWS
Posted on August 10, 2012 at 4:22amI‘d welcome the 50’s back just for the cars alone something fixable on the side of the road, Wasn’t totaled in a accident and lasted more than 10 yrs.
Report Post »historyguy48
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:04pmHey, another Democrat brain storm! Take away all the citizens guns, then fire the cops, and pray that Robo-Cop will show up and save the day, or was that Superman?
Report Post »And there are morons posting to the Blaze that think we should trust the government! Unbelievable!
randy
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:00pmJust require every legal citizen of the Untied States and of Camden, NJ to carry a weapon and watch the crime rate go down.
Report Post »salvawhoray
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:09pmI agree, but I also see criminals shooting first as a preemption strike.
Report Post »Remember when the first car jacking was coined? It changed the way people stoled cars; instead of trying to hot wire it they just started taking by gun point. I just hope that every criminal shot for a crime suffers before he or she dies.
kindling
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:10pmVery true. If you have a bad attitude and cross someone they will kill you. Before you know it everyone has a good attitude and things go smoothly.
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:11pmOne of the worst states for carry.
Report Post »As long as they are killing themselves off good, let them and good riddance
Chris allow your citizens and visitors to carry with permit! Your crime rate will drop.(may take a little bit till the bad guys get the plan)
njJoniGuy
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:52pmThe age-old question is “Who carries in Jersey?”
and the answer is:
Jersey cops and the Bad Guys
And even the NJ State Police don’t want any part in policing this jungle
(Can’t really blame them)
In New Jersey, CCW means Can’t Carry Weapons.
Report Post »Smokey_Bojangles
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 7:55pmWouldnt Be New Jersey Anti-Gun laws by chance?
Report Post »DesdemonasCrew
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:05pmYea! Those same gun laws in Cali that allow San Bernardino to become Murder Capital of the West!
Report Post »yougottabekidding
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 8:23pmRecently had go go into Camden.
Report Post »I was really torn as to what was the worst consequence.
1. Being a legal carry from out of state. If stopped I would have ended up with the same class of people in jail. Still without the weapon
2. or hope to get lucky and not make any wrong turns (updated the Garmin hoping she knew what she was doing) Don’t ask, I won‘t tell it’s best that way.
Airborne Infidel
Posted on August 9, 2012 at 9:32pmWould you rather be tried by 12 or carried by 6?…….. Think about it.
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