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View of the Camden County Police headquarters with City Hall (left).

(Tony Kurdzuk | The Star-Ledger)

In the two years since the Camden County Police Department was formed, taking over policing for Camden City, nearly 120 officers have resigned -- an issue that's hurting morale within the force, according to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer.



The story, published a day before President Barack Obama is to visit the city and highlight the department's success at reducing crime and increasing trust with the community, said the turnover is one of the highest in the state.

The Inquirer reports that of the 117 officers that have left the force, only 27 were retirements and the rest were resignations. The average tenure of a new hire has been less than a year, according to the report.

The reasons for the departures vary. County officials say the transition for new recruits has been difficult but other officers, including current and former, told the Inquirer there have been other issues such as long hours and disciplinary actions for minor reasons, according to the report.

The city, which historically has had one of the highest crime rates in the country, will be visited by Obama on Monday. The president will be touring the Camden County Metro Division's headquarters to see and hear first-hand about the community policing efforts Chief Scott Thomson spoke of when he testified before the president's task force that was formed after the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. The president also plans to visit the Kroc Community Center where he'll speak.