Latest southern Colorado news, weather and sports from FOX21 News

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) officially decommissioned its helicopter unit in a ceremony Tuesday.

Budget cuts and aging aircraft mean the eyes in the sky that cops rely on are gone.

Police department leaders say it was a race to see what would end the aviation unit first -- the age of the helicopters or lack of money. It turns out both caught up with them at the same time.

It’s a sad day for CSPD. The department held a ceremony to say goodbye to one of the smaller but most effective units on the force.

"To the officers who have flown on this program you are among the unsung heroes of our community," said CSPD chief Richard Myers.

For the last 13 years two donated Army surplus helicopters have patrolled the skies over Colorado Springs. But they are old. One was built in 1968, the other in 1970.

And city leaders decided they are just too expensive to operate.

"We in the police department are frustrated and sad to witness our declining ability to provide the quality of service one should expect in one of America’s top 50 cities," said Myers.

The budget for the program is about $650, 000 a year. When the choppers are sold they are expected to bring in a combined $350,000.

In the 13-year history of the unit they have saved lives and kept officers safe. But now the department will have to get along without them.

“Shy of a major event we are through flying ,with the possible exception of New Year’s Eve [which]  may be the last scheduled patrol flight” said pilot and air support unit Sgt. Dan Lofgren.

And the officers who have dedicated their careers to this type of crime fighting will now return to the streets.

"I’d be lying if I said it isn’t going to be hard to walk away from," Lofgren said.

Police say it will likely be many years before the city has the money to buy another helicopter and restart the aviation unit.