Pueblo students getting fewer citations

Authorities are cutting back on the number of students in Pueblo City Schools getting citations for discipline issues.

Pueblo police Chief Luis Velez says police have been taking more responsibility for problem students and they want school authorities to take a bigger role.

According to our partners at the Pueblo Chieftain, more than 1,000 students a year were getting tickets.

The biggest drop in citations last year was at the elementary school level with a 52 percent reduction. The high schools reported a 31 percent drop and the middle schools had 20 percent drop. There was no breakdown on the types of citations issued.

Police and school officials are worried because a conviction creates a criminal record for students that stay with them forever.