Friday, April 20, 2012
The Camden County freeholder director writes to clarify "rumors and innuendo" surrounding a countywide force.
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Friday, April 20, 2012
To the Editor: Over the past 14 months there have been a lot of rumors and innuendo surrounding the creation and operation of the Camden County Police Department. I have heard all of the conspiracy theories and today I wanted to take the opportunity to provide you with the facts. Right now, the County has a goal of having the Metro Division of the County Police Department operational by 2013. The move would put more than 400 police officers on the streets of Camden instead of the 268 officers in the city’s existing force. Furthermore, the commissioning of a Metro Division will be done in a way that’s cost-effective and sustainable yet provides a comparable salary for officers to their colleagues in other towns throughout the state. I …
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
A high-profile consultant brought in to oversee the implementation of a countywide force isn't so sure.
A former Philadelphia police commissioner brought in by Camden County officials to help oversee the implementation of a countywide police force is not certain the plan will save money, according to reports. John Timoney told reporters gathered at the Camden County Regional Emergency Training Center, in Blackwood, on Tuesday that whether savings will be realized depends on what are determined to be "optimal staffing levels" for municipalities. "You're looking for optimal staffing levels to police a county like Camden County," he told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Maybe it costs more. You won't know until you look." Camden County Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr. has indicated that municipalities will pay their own share for their forces …
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The Council president did not go so far as to reject the plan, but he did make a pretty telling statement Monday night.
While willing to listen to the plan when it's complete, it sounds like Council President Glen Bianchini and his colleagues would prefer to continue to have Gloucester Township patrolled by members of the Gloucester Township Police Department. "I think you know how we feel about our police department," Bianchini told a resident during Monday night's Council meeting. For those who do not normally attend Council meetings or follow the governing body in media: Its members are highly supportive of the police department headed by Chief W. Harry Earle. As Council Vice President Orlando Mercado put it: "Council enables our police force to have the latest and greatest when it comes to technology in crime prevention and crime-solving." Camden County…
Thursday, June 9, 2011
A white paper from Camden County outlines the process and benefits of a regional police force.
Camden County released a draft white paper Tuesday on its proposal to regionalize local police forces. The seven-page white paper pulls together discussions that have gone on for months about what a countywide police department would look like and how it would work for local municipalities. “We look at it as an update for citizens and the media,” Joyce Gabriel, director of public affairs for the county government, said. “It’s an update on where we are.” Reports from subcommittees looking at the proposal are expected July 1. The subcommittees are: • Governance—looking at the structure of how towns would join the regional force and how the department would be managed • Operations and facilities • Criminal justice implications • Special …
Interested taxpayer
5:22 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Look at the Camden county school tax and see that more than half of the county tax paid by all municipalities pays to subsidiary ONE school district Camden City School District. Now an over 70% subsidy from all municipalities is not enough so the State cuts Schiller funding and establishes school choice which further subsdizes Camden City. Enough is enough... more ›