Police Union Bashes Christie’s County Police Idea for Trenton

A police union is panning Gov. Chris Christie's recommendation that Trenton follow Camden's lead and disband its police department, replacing it with a county force.The state Policemen's Benevolent Association says the capital city is suffering from a rise in violent crime but its situation is different from Camden's.

The PBA says the layoff of more than 100 officers due to budget cuts and the failure of indicted Mayor Tony Mack to step aside are at the root of Trenton's problems -- not "public sector union politics," as was suggested by the governor.

The PBA says the Camden takeover was all about breaking the police union contract in that city.

In Trenton, the union says there are no contract disputes and the state's focus should be on providing money to hire more officers.