From Camden County's NAACP chapter to Republican candidates for county and state offices, not everyone who came to police headquarters were happy with Chris Christie
CAMDEN -- About an hour before Gov. Chris Christie signed an executive order declaring Nov. 5 as law enforcement appreciation day in New Jersey, Lou Hannon lamented on the current state of police affairs in this country.
Hannon, a candidate for county sheriff who retired from the Camden city police force in 2009 after 25 years of service, said things are also rough for metro officers.
"They can't keep people here," Hannon said Monday morning while standing opposite police headquarters along Federal Street, claiming salary and leadership issues are driving officers away in droves.
Inside the department, Christie touted the accomplishments of the county force formed in 2013 that should serve as a national model for policing.
"You are all proof that what was once the most violent city in American can be turned around," the governor told two rows of seated metro officers, later shaking their hands and saying that working with local law enforcement was the highlight of his career.
MORE: Christie thanks Camden police, takes swipe at Obama
Mayor Dana Redd said Christie -- now visiting Camden in his official capacity for the 28th time -- was "no stranger to our great city" while police Chief Scott Thomson remarked on the "journey" the department began on May 1, 2013 "to make this city a safer place."
They've seen evidence of their efforts: people jogging or riding bikes at night and residents sitting outside on their porches, unafraid of the crime that made earned the invincible city the title of most dangerous in the U.S. in 2004 and 2005.
For people like Colandus "Kelly" Francis, president of the NAACP's Camden County chapter, what happens on the force is of utmost importance, because he's lived here since 1949.
Before the disbanding of the city police department, Francis said a little more than 71 percent of the officers were minorities. That's important to him because, according to Francis, a department that resembles the community it protects translates to better policing.
"You've got to be around for years. You don't develop intelligence in six months," he said of investigative skills leaned in the field.
For a force that desires ranks of around 400, the current total hovers around 350 and turnover has been a recent issue as Camden County Police Department (CCPD) officers trade the city for other departments.
As for the governor coming to Camden on the same day President Obama visited Newark, "This is all campaign fodder. Camden is his poster child," Francis said.
Republican candidates for freeholder, sheriff, and state Assembly were doing their own campaigning outside police headquarters on Monday while the Republican governor met with elected officials, community leaders, police officers and more.
Some protest signs labeled Christie as a Republican in Name Only (RINO). Others insinuated the a relationship between the governor and political power broker Norcross was worth of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organziations (RICO) act.
"Chris Christie does not get a free pass in Camden," said state Assembly candidate Keith Walker. "The man has no loyalty."
The latter sentiment is something county Republicans could certainly attest to.
"The governor goes to Ocean, Burlington or Atlantic counties and those Republican chairmen are notified; he comes to Camden or Gloucester -- the heart of (George) Norcross country -- our chairman learns from the newspaper and the governor stands with our opponents. It's unacceptable, and will no longer be tolerated," said Steve Kush, campaign manager for the Camden County GOP's election efforts.
"Four visits to the county to support a Democratic party boss and his machine politicians is too many," Kush continued, adding that Lt. Gov. Kim Guadago does not draw the same ire from Camden County Republicans.
"We love her. She's supportive of all Republican candidates," Kush said.
As for Hannon, who stood across the street from police headquarters and watched the flock of news media enter through the front doors of his former employer, he's got a list of more than 200 former metro officers who have left for various reasons.
"I had a great career. I'd do it all over again," said the county sheriff candidate who'd been shot in the line of duty and struck by suspects fleeing in vehicles.
It's just a shame that officers themselves bare the brunt of bad publicity when its politics and leadership putting them in harm's way, he said.
Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.