Trenton had four homicides over the weekend, bringing the city's total for the year to 27 and nearing the record for killings set in 2005 at 31
TRENTON — Trenton Mayor Tony Mack sent a letter to Gov. Chris Christie on Friday asking for the state for $46.4 million in state aid to hire 75 police officers and pay their salaries for four years to battle the surge in violent crime in the state's capital.
Mack, who laid off 100 police officers in 2011 amid sweeping city budget cuts, sent the letter before a violent weekend in Trenton that included four homicides and brought the city's total for the year to 27. The record for homicides in Trenton is 31 set in 2005.
The proposed hiring of 75 officers would cost $10 million in the first year and increase to $13 million by fiscal year 2017.
"We are asking Governor Christie and our legislators to find $10,100,000, to stem the tidal wave of blood that is being spilled in the shadow of the State House," Mack said in a statement issued with the release of his letter to Christie. "I guarantee that every dollar will be used for the purposes of hiring police."
Read the full text of Mack's statement and his letter to Gov. Christie
The State Police has been running periodic operations in Trenton since December in response to a previous request from the city for help amid the diminished manpower of the police department.
“We have come to realize the limitations of these temporary surges,” Mack wrote to Christie. “We are confident that an increase of this magnitude would give our police department the resources necessary to stem the tide of violence.”
Christie has previously called for Mack's resignation as mayor after he was indicted on federal corruption charges involving alleged bribes for a phony parking garage project. Mack's trial on those charges is scheduled for early next year.
“We understand that there will be some resistance to providing increased funding to our City,” Mack wrote. “Nevertheless, we are asking for these funds to be restored for a very specific purpose; rehiring police officers.”
Mack’s police hiring plan requests the state increase the aid Trenton receives through the Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Act. The plan calls for the city to receive $46.4 million over the next four years -- $10.1 million for this fiscal year. Mack said this funding would cover 75 officers hired at the most senior pay level – $133,930 a year – for a cost of $10,044,750.
Mack said the police layoffs in 2011 were largely a result of cuts from state aid, noting that the city saw a $22.8 million reduction in CMPTRA funds and less money for Transitional Aid as well last year.
Mack said the city would encourage the state to attach spending guidelines and deadlines for the city to meet if it receives the additional funding to avoid waste and abuse of the funding.
State Senate President Steve Sweeney has said state officials would not work with Mack because he is under indictment. Sweeney has also called for Mack to step down.
CONNECT WITH US:
On mobile or desktop:
• Like Times of Trenton on Facebook
• Follow @TimesofTrenton on Twitter