(10/17/06) PERTH AMBOY ? City leaders in Perth Amboy have enraged the police department with a proposal to lay off eight out of 132 officers.

The proposal stems from the city?s budget problems. PBA President Bill Dillon says although those eight officers would be out of a job, it?s the residents of Perth Amboy who will suffer. Dillon says a growing population and spike in gang-related crime has already stretched the police department thin. The loss of more officers would make it more difficult for police to keep people on the streets safe.

As the showdown between the PBA and city leaders heats up, the City Council president has stepped in with a possible compromise. That idea would have officers freezing their contracted 4 percent raise. The union is mulling over the idea.