By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – The St. Louis Police Department has all but axed a program credited with jailing some of the city's most dangerous criminals.
Eight officers who work on the Most Violent Offenders program were recently transferred. Lt. Col. Tim Reagan says "the transfers have decimated the program."
Police Chief Joe Mokwa was instrumental in establishing the team of officers two years ago and praised its accomplishments. He says he reluctantly made the cuts to keep enough officers on patrol.
The department's new $137 million budget calls for cutting as many as 50 officers through attrition this year.
The force already was depleted by about 100 officers over the past year. It's at its smallest size in about 80 years.