>Throughout New Jersey, police officer retirements lead to leaner forces
Jersey City Police Chief Tom Comey can claim something few people in his position in New Jersey can: He has led a big-city department through the economic downturn without laying off one police officer.
Instead of pink slips, Comey has been besieged by a historic surge in retirements that has touched all corners of the state. As a result, he has lost 103 officers, or about 12 percent of his overall force, forcing him to disband the community affairs department and the police academy, and transfer officers out of the traffic unit to keep up with neighborhood patrols. (Renshaw and Baxter, The Star-Ledger)