Retirements Leading To Leaner Police Forces

New state Treasury Department data shows that retirements in New Jersey's police and firefighter pension system have swelled by 48 percent over the past two years.

And a separate report shows police and fire staffing levels dropped by 1,470 -- or 4 percent -- last year.

Officials tell The Star-Ledger of Newark that many of these retirees feared losing their benefits after Gov. Chris Christie and state lawmakers moved to reform what they saw as lavish public benefits, such as payouts on unused sick time and low-cost health plans.

The retirements have also hit the state police.

The division saw 203 troopers leave in 2011, including 197 who retired. It now has 2,782 enlisted members, including the 85 new recruits who graduated from the academy earlier this month.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)