He rose through the ranks to assume the chief's position while the department was under state control in 2008. He remained at the helm when the city surrendered control to Camden County five years later.
"The chief knows every inch of that city," Freeholder Director Lou Cappelli told KYW Newsradio. "He knows what the problems were, what the problems are, and he was the right person at the right time for us."
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Thomson's leadership saw Camden's crime rate plummet, primarily due to his emphasis on community involvement. He also saw a complete overhaul of the department's internal structure.
The chief credited former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey as a mentor. Ramsey, now a law enforcement consultant and CNN commentator, returned the compliment.
"He is one of the brightest young minds in the policing profession. There's no question about it," Ramsey said. "I have a lot of respect for Scott. It's going to be a huge loss, not only for Camden, but for the profession of policing."
Thomson will leave at the end of August to spend more time with his family, but he plans to remain involved in the city through volunteer work. No word on professional plans.
Cappelli says Thomson’s replacement will come from within the department. Assistant Chief Joseph Wysocki will take over on an interim basis.