South Jersey mayors, in rural towns where State Police patrol, are growing increasingly concerned at the number of trooper retirements with no replacements.

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“Are they thin, yes…are they spread thin, yes” said Buena Vista mayor Peter Bylone, of the shortage in troopers.

“When you have a problem, it seems like it takes forever and response times have slowed” he added.

He’s not the only one in Atlantic County who’s noticed fewer patrol cars driving by.

“We are very concerned when we know that the manpower of the New Jersey State Police is being thinned by attrition” said Gary Giberson, mayor of Port Republic.

Last year 200 troopers retired. Two new State Police recruit classes will graduate at the end of 2013.

“I am optimistic that these troopers will help us down here, but we need them now” said Bylone.

Giberson is putting together a petition to send to Governor Christie to address the shortage, including a plan where if one trooper retires, another gets hired.

“We are asking for help from the Governor…whatever he can do…we know times are tough fiscally in this state, but public safety needs to be a top priority” said Giberson.

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