[1] Camden consistently ranked among the cities in the United States with the highest crime rate based on FBI statistics.
[2] In 1996, public criticism of mismanagement and corruption in the Camden Police Department, coupled with high crime rates led state and city administrations to order an audit.
In their investigation, the audit team reported that information provided by the Camden police was often inconsistent or incomplete.
[6][7][8] Three other Camden officers, Jason Stetser, Antonio Figaro, and Dan Morris also pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison over the scandal.
[10] In 2011, it was announced that a new county police department would be formed, which would only patrol areas inside the city.
[14] The city added crime-fighting tactics like surveillance cameras, better street lighting, and curfews for children.
Camden experienced a spike in homicides, and the city police department wanted to hire more patrol officers but couldn't afford to partly due to generous union contracts.
[20] Well-known law enforcement executive John Timoney was retained to develop an organizational and functional plan for the department.
Savings were expected to come from reducing the fringe benefits that had been required under the city's union contract.