NEWARK, N.J. (1010 WINS) – After months of talks, legal maneuvers, and delays 167 Newark police officers will lose their jobs, the head of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police said.

An e-mail from union head Derrick Hatcher to Mayor Corey Booker has all but sealed the collective fate of the officers.

Twenty percent of the force are expected to be laid off at midnight.

“The membership has no interest reopening the contract or getting involved in any side agreements with the city,” Hatcher said. “The city will move forward in laying off the officers.”

The layoffs come after five people were shot over the weekend in an eruption of violence.

“We’re concerned about the safety of our citizens as well as our police officers that are currently left behind,” Hatcher said. “Those individuals are going to be doing double-duty. Gangs don’t take furloughs.”

Hatcher believes the union has done everything in its power to avert the job cuts but says the city was demanding too much from its members in concessions.

“The officers basically expressed through phone calls and stopping by the office that they weren’t interested in renegotiating their contract,” Hatcher said.

He adds there is no room for compromise.

“No one wants to see those officers laid off,” Hatcher said. “My heart goes out to them and their families.”