The family members, friends and fans of Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams are no doubt disappointed that his slaying remains unsolved more than eight months after the murder.

And yet police have not run out of leads or lost interest in the case. Instead, as stories in Saturday's Rocky about the Metro Gang Task Force reported, the investigation of Williams' killing shows that while the wheels of justice may turn slowly, they rarely grind to a halt when there is still another lead to run down.

Williams' shooting is one of 11 unsolved killings the task force - made up of local, state and federal law enforcement officers - is certain the vicious "Elite Eight" gangsters are behind.

The Elite Eight, which came together in 2002 and has grown over time, was targeted in a massive law-enforcement roundup in April that involved some 450 officers. The crackdown resulted in more than 100 suspects being charged for running drugs, dealing guns and laundering money, among other offenses.

The task force is counting on the eventual cooperation of some of those who are now incarcerated. Police expect they will be able to make plea deals if the suspects remain behind bars after they have exhausted legal challenges to their arrests.

This process is fraught with uncertainty and it's maddening that no one has come forward to finger the shooters. But then solving such cases is frustrating because gangs have been far too successful in silencing "snitches." Without credible witnesses who are willing to offer evidence and testify in court about what they've seen, convicting gang leaders can be nearly impossible.

It's no mystery why potential witnesses have little desire to aid police. The victim of one of the 11 unsolved killings is Kalonniann Clark, who was gunned down outside her apartment in December 2006, just days after she told police that two members of the Elite Eight had tried to kill her in 2005.

Still, you'd think that Williams' murder would be different. He was a rising talent on the Broncos, well-liked by teammates, admired in the community, with no obvious ties to gang culture.

Surely his tragic death would crack the wall of silence surrounding any gang. But so far, the silence has held.

Fortunately, there is no statute of limitations on a murder charge, letting authorities take their time and bolster evidence that should help in the event of a trial. And as Lt. Jim Welton, who heads the task force, told the Rocky's Sara Burnett, under very difficult circumstances police have removed a number of dangerous gang leaders from the streets. That act alone has made the community safer.