The proposed lay-off of 82 Jersey City police officers will shrink the force to 1994 levels, when violent crime was more than double the current rate, as reported by the Jersey Journal.

"It's clear that recent police layoffs in Newark and other New Jersey cities have led to significant increases in crime, and Jersey City should not follow down the same wrong path," Jersey City Police Officers Benevolent Association President Jerry DeCicco said in a statement.

FBI data shows that more than 4,300 violent crimes committed in Jersey City. Despite an increase in population, less than 1,800 violent crimes occurred in the city in 2009, according to the data, reports said.

Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy said he is hopeful that the union and the city can come to an agreement and noted the city has cut the amount of concessions it is seeking from the officers from $8 million to $4 million, as the Journal reported.

Full story: Jersey City police union warning that proposed layoffs will lead to more violent crime