Walnut Creek Police will scale back its efforts to control rowdy crowds at downtown bars, despite making over a dozen arrests last weekend. A special police team tasked with patrolling the bar scene will now return to regular patrol because of staff shortages, according to reports.

The team of one sergeant and three officers was assembled to control rowdy crowds after several drunken brawls earlier this year. In May, the Walnut Creek City Council approved a controversial nuisance ordinance that gave city officials more control over problem bars and holds all alcohol-serving establishments to standards.

The downtown team could lose two members as early as January while the other two will go on regular patrol on an as-needed basis.

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