Camden, Newark to rehire laid-off police officers

New federal grants will add 78 police officers to patrols across New Jersey, where several departments have had deep layoffs because of budget problems.

Federal authorities announced funding worth more than $20 million for New Jersey communities over three years.

The biggest recipients are Newark and Camden, two high-crime cities that have had deep police layoffs in the past year.

Newark will be able to add 25 officers. About 150 were laid off late last year.

Camden, which laid off about half the force in January, can rehire 14. The city had already secured state and federal money to bring back 74 of the 168 officers who were laid off.