OLYMPIA, Wash. -- An official with the Thurston County narcotics task force said budget cuts are forcing the City of Olympia to pull its detectives out of the unit, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.

The task force targets medium to large suppliers of illegal drugs and has made an impact in the community over the years, from halting a marijuana grow operation in the Capitol forest to raiding sellers of psychedelic mushrooms, police said.

Olympia officials said pulling out of the task force was a purely economic decision but raises concerns about the future of the task force.

"We're not happy about the reality of having to do this," said Olympia Police Department Commander Tor Bjornstad.

Police said the loss of detectives will make the task force less effective.

Thurston County undersheriff Brad Watkins said Olympia's decision could have other agencies reconsidering their involvement in the task force during the tough economic times.

Watkins said the effect could be disastrous and cause street crime to explode.

The city agrees the long-term consequences could be grim, but while they're facing a tight budget, the police department has to focus on 911 calls instead of the task force.

Olympia police said they hope the task force survives and that officers can rejoin the unit when the economy and the city's budget turns around.