Pueblo police union calls for action

The police union is calling for action from Pueblo Police Chief Luis Velez over and above what he has already promised.

The union believes Velez needs to step up and take more responsibility for hiring additional staff and help boost morale.

This comes after a survey taken by police union members in December that revealed close to 95 percent have little confidence in their chief.

The union isn’t calling for the chief’s resignation, but are hoping help facilitate solutions.

“Exercise every avenue they can to increase manpower, not just the additional seven or nine positions that they’re talking about adding in 2016,” said John Rice, the attorney for the police union.

Velez was not available for an interview Monday, but issued this statement when the survey results were released, “all efforts are being sought in an effort to alleviate concerns and frustrations that appear to have manifested themselves in this recent survey.”