Colorado Springs Police Disbands Gang Unit

The Colorado Springs Police Department has disbanded its gang unit indefinitely due to staffing shortages.

KKTV-TV reports that members of the gang unit and some traffic investigators have been reassigned to patrol duty as that area of the department has suffered a number of resignations and retirements.

The department will also leave unfilled vacancies in specialized units empty until at least Jan. 1 in an effort to fill other parts of the department.

Chief Pete Carey says the decision to move officers around was difficult, but that there needs to be enough people on patrol to cover officers if they go into dangerous situations.