Members of Camden's police force are scheduled to vote Thursday on a contract to let them join a new police department en masse.
Camden is in the process of dissolving its force and replacing it with one run through the county government.
The city of 77,000 is among the most impoverished and crime-ridden cities in the nation. Last year, it had a record-setting 67 homicides.
Officials say they can put more officers on the street by bringing in a new department. But it would curtail benefits such as shift differentials and longevity bonuses for the officers.
The county cannot hire more than half the city's current officers unless a contract is in place.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
