He'll probably have to go back this weekend, too.

At 63, Faulk's earned the right to walk out the door, ease into a life of retirement, and build sandcastles on the beach in Avalon with his three grandchildren. But instead, he's going from private practice to public service.

On Monday morning, he'll open a new office door about five miles away when he gets started as prosecutor in Camden County. He's taking a pay cut, too.

"This is an opportunity to do some public service again," said Faulk, who will make $153,000 as the county's top law enforcement official. "It's a big change of pace for me, but my family is very supportive. We'll see how I feel at the end of the five years."

Camden County is home to 37 municipalities, but the vast majority of major crimes occur in Camden, which was named the nation's most dangerous city in 2004 and 2005 by a Kansas-based ranking publisher. There have been 29 murders in Camden so far this year, a record-setting pace in a city of less than 80,000.

Current Camden police statistics point to a decrease in robberies and aggravated assaults. But overall, reported crimes have increased 3.9 percent over the last year.

Meanwhile, the most recent countywide crime statistics supplied by the FBI showed a 2 percent decrease in the first six months of 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.

"My biggest challenge is obviously going to be the crime in the city of Camden," said Faulk. "My goal is the same as any prosecutor, to protect the city from violent crime."

Faulk was officially sworn in yesterday afternoon in the Camden County Hall of Justice before a large crowd that included New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine, Attorney General Anne Milgram and an assortment of current and former county prosecutors from all over South Jersey.

Earlier in the day, both Corzine and Milgram watched as crack houses were demolished in the city.

"I believe in my heart that we can make this city safe," Milgram told the crowd.

Faulk said he has already spoken with Milgram, Corzine and city law enforcement officials about future and ongoing initiatives to target crime and social issues in Camden.

"They have all been indispensable," he said.

Faulk, a father of two, has been a county resident for 60 years. He grew up in Merchantville, graduated from Camden Catholic High School, and currently lives in Haddonfield with his wife, Suzanne. He graduated from Villanova University School of Law in 1970 and spent two years as an artillery officer and judge advocate in the U.S. Army at Fort Sill, Okla. Along with prosecuting and defending soldiers, he learned how to handle a howitzer. He also served as a municipal prosecutor in Barrington, Camden County.

Faulk started as a law clerk at Brown & Connery in Haddon Township while at Villanova and worked his way up to senior partner, specializing in civil litigation. His firm has represented both the Daily News and the Inquirer in First Amendment cases.

Allen Etish, a Haddonfield attorney and lifelong friend, attempted to roast Faulk before his swearing in, but admitted afterward that Faulk is a man with few flaws.

"His hobby is work," Etish said. "He's a straight-arrow, a no-B.S. kind of guy."

Faulk replaces Acting Camden County Prosecutor Joshua M. Ottenberg, who has held the position since Vincent P. Sarubbi resigned in 2006. Ottenberg was sworn in as First Assistant Prosecutor. *