The Camden police force will cease to exist on Tuesday.
The city's force is being replaced the next day with a new county-run force designed to get more officers on the street for a similar cost.
Unions fought the change, but the transition is now nearly complete.
Officials say that by getting rid of some provisions of the old force's union agreements, they can have 400 officers at about $62 million per year. That's about the same as what it previously cost to have fewer than 300 officers.
City and Camden County officials say the change is necessary to fight crime in a city that has had a spike in violence in recent years and has long been considered one of the country's most dangerous.
Metro Division officers hit the streets earlier this month. At the time, Camden Mayor Dana Redd said the new police force is just part of the city's efforts to fight crime. “The new Quality of Life Task Force for Neighborhood Safety will seek to address the many concerns our residents have been asking for and deserve.”
