Budget cuts lead to FDLE office closures

MIAMI (AP) -- Budget cuts have forced the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to close its Fort Lauderdale field office and transfer its 19 employees to the agency's Miami office.

The agency -- which specializes in coordinating major investigations and managing crime labs and computer databases -- also plans to close its West Palm Beach field office and relocate its 17 employees as soon as next year.

Officials say the agents assigned to Broward and Palm Beach counties will still handle some cases in the area but among the additional cuts at the agency were 33 positions assigned to monitor the region's casinos.

Officials say that has left law enforcement oversight of the gambling activity at the facilities nearly nonexistent.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)