Firearms officers from Essex could be sent to London to bolster numbers during the 2012 Olympics, raising fears that policing in the county will suffer.
Police chiefs predict the Metropolitan Police will need more armed officers to cope with the 2012 games.
The county has the 205 armed officers making it third in the UK, just behind the Met and Greater Manchester Police.
They drive in high-response cars and are a crucial asset in policing Stansted Airport.
The news they could be be diverted to the Olympics has led to concerns at the county's policing watchdog.
Independent Essex Police Authority member Charles Cochrane thought the county would be a "good source" for the Met to scout for more officers because of its high armed quota.
Authority member Margaret Fisher also has concerns about traffic cover.
A team from Essex are already involved in planning the multi-million pound policing operation, along with all other forces affected by the games.
Essex Chief Constable Roger Baker said he would not let the policing of Essex be affected by any agreement the force may strike with the Met.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article