Camden police reject deal to join new county force

The police union in Camden has rejected an offer that would allow all its members to be hired into a new county-run force that’s set to take over policing in the city.

Thursday’s vote means that no more than 49 percent of the city’s current officers can join the new Camden County Police Metro Division.

 

But it also preserves the officers’ right to sue over the disbanding of the department.

The offer from the county did not guarantee that current officers would find jobs in the new department. But it did offer early retirement incentives.

Officials say the switch in police forces means they can put more officers on the streets of a city that consistently ranks among the most crime-ridden in the nation.