TRENTON — Police union president Anthony Wieners said today New Jersey is growing less safe as towns lay off police officers. Overall, New Jersey has 11 percent fewer officers than it did in January 2009, he said. "It's just going to get much worse," he said. "We're the front lines of defense." Dozens of police officers jammed into a...
Anthony Wieners, president of NJPBA, in a file photo. TRENTON — Police union president Anthony Wieners said today New Jersey is growing less safe as towns lay off police officers.
Overall, New Jersey has 11 percent fewer officers than it did in January 2009, he said.
"It's just going to get much worse," he said. "We're the front lines of defense."
Dozens of police officers jammed into a small Statehouse conference room for the press conference.
Wieners highlighted pending layoffs in some of the state's most violent cities. In Newark, 165 cops could lose their jobs. In Trenton, 111 cops are on the chopping block. And today, Atlantic City laid off 40 officers, on top of 20 officers who already lost their jobs earlier this year.
"My hometown is less safe today than it was yesterday," said Sen. Jim Whelan (D-Atlantic), a former Atlantic City mayor.
Wieners said people who say crime won't go up when there are fewer officers should "join the real world."
"For those who say these are scare tactics, take a look at the facts," he said. "Law enforcement and public safety will be in crisis."
Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) is proposing a bill to allow towns to raise property taxes outside the new 2 percent cap to pay police officers, firefighters and emergency workers.
Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) has already said the bill is "dead on arrival."
Wieners didn't directly endorse any legislation today, but called on elected officials to help find solutions to the issue.
"I'm looking to work with the Legislature," he said.