Anti-gang unit to have all new members

A temporary, gang-fighting police unit will contain all new members while the investigation of the Metro Gang Strike Force continues.

The Strike Force was suspended following allegations of poor evidence handling. The FBI is investigating, and a separate panel review is under way.

Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion recommended the new unit have at least seven members plus a commander. The strike force's commander will stay on to oversee the new temporary unit.

Some members of the strike force's advisory board said excluding all current members from the temporary unit would be unfair to those investigators who did nothing wrong. But after more than an hour of debate, the board agreed all members should be new in the interim.

The goal is for the new unit to begin operating July 9.

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