Camden's Mayor Axing Current Police Force For New County Depart - Philadelphia News, Weather and Sports from WTXF FOX 29

Longtime Camden resident Darren Witherspoon has strong feelings about a plan to layoff police officers.

"I think they should keep the officers that's here. They know the areas, they know the residents and a lot of the police grew up in the areas," says Witherspoon.

He along with other neighbors are skeptical overall, about the mayor's plan to get rid of the city's current police force and create a new county run department.

"Just bringing in officers from somewhere else is just going to create more problems," says Witherspoon, "Like with the state police, they don't live in the city and they come in the city and they terrorize."

Tuesday Mayor Dana Redd announced she is laying off 283 officers but describes it as a procedural move.

"We have to file a layoff plan to get the personnel moved from the city side over to the county side," says Redd. She says those officers will have the opportunity to join the new force but it's up to the union president to make that happen. She also says the new department will give citizens more protection.

"We're looking at operationalizing under the new department, 400 plus officers."

The president of Camden's Fraternal Order of Police isn't buying it. He says there is no current county police force.

"This isn't a shared services agreement, this is in essences a take over," said FOP President John Williamson.

Residents want to know more about the plan but say the more cops the better.

"Cops can't be in every place at one time but if we had more, then we'd have more to put out there on the streets," said Margie Shinholster.

Mayor Redd also says the new force will only cover Camden, no other cities. It'll be phased in over the next few weeks but fully in place by January. The FOP plans to appeal.