Community policing is a false narrative. Making our public servants live where they work won't solve tensions with locals- it'll make it worse.

Governor Christie vetoed a bill this week that would require new police and firefighters to live in the towns where they work for a minimum of five years.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, who strongly supports the legislation, says it would strengthen the bond between communities and their police forces. However, I spoke with multiple police officers on air this morning who testified that living in the communities where they worked put their families in danger by keeping them close to criminals that knew the cops' identities.

Christie was absolutely right to veto this. Who is the government to tell you where to live? Merit, not geography, should be the reason you get a job. Plus, we should try to keep these employees safe.

Let me know whether you agree or disagree by commenting or tweeting at @nj1015 and @BillSpadea.

Bill Spadea is host of the Chasing News TV program. He periodically fills in for NJ 101.5 show hosts, and you can daily hear his opinion about all things New Jersey here, or by tweeting @BillSpadea.

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