Elite Vancouver rescue team disbanded

Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson says the city's elite Urban Search and Rescue team has been temporarily disbanded.

City staff launched an internal review of the team last spring, amidst allegations of mismanagement and misappropriation of funds.

Since the review began, four key members have left the 54-person team, which was formed to respond to domestic and international disasters such as earthquakes.

Vancouver city manager Penny Ballem was overseeing the review, which included an investigation into allegations of financial impropriety made against the Urban Search and Rescue (U-SAR) team leaders.

Ballem said the investigation showed there was no wrongdoing and that changes being made to the team reflect a long-standing need for new direction.

Earlier this week, three highly skilled volunteer members of the team were released from their duties, including the medical director and the head of its K-9 unit.   None of the men was accused of impropriety.

Robertson said the review is not over yet and more changes are possible.

One of team's two leaders leaving

"My understanding is that the operations are disbanded for the time being," Robertson told CBC News Friday.

"We just want to be sure we … are delivering the services needed in a fiscally responsible way."

It was also learned Friday that one of U-SAR's two leaders, Brian Inglis, will retire in January 2010.

Ballem said Inglis's departure is a long-planned retirement unrelated to controversy surrounding the team.

Inglis has spent more than 30 years with the Vancouver fire department.

Ballem said that during the restructuring of U-SAR,  teams from Alberta and Washington state would be called into service if there was a need in Vancouver for urban search and rescue expertise.