Continued: Chiefs weigh alternatives to all-metro gang unit

Print this story

E-mail this story

Save to del.icio.us

Share on Facebook

Share on Digg

Follow local news on Twitter

With the Metro Gang Strike Force shut down indefinitely, its reputation shattered by investigations into its operations and revelations of questionable practices, Hennepin County law enforcement officials have been meeting privately to consider an alternative strategy to fight gangs in the county.

Sheriff Rich Stanek said in an interview that county law enforcement agencies might have only minimal involvement in an interim metrowide anti-gang unit that the Strike Force's oversight board is setting up, but he emphasized no decisions have been made.

"There is a feeling that the words 'gang unit' are suffering a credibility issue right now," said Stanek.

All the county's police chiefs have been invited to a July 30 meeting to discuss their needs.

Richfield Chief Barry Fritz said he has no idea whether the Strike Force will be reconstituted. He has volunteered one Richfield officer to be a part of the interim metro unit while Fritz meets to discuss a separate Hennepin County unit. "I want to keep my options open," he said.

Said Maple Grove Chief Mona Dohman: "We haven't drilled down to anything specific. It's more about how we can collaborate ... to provide necessary service to combat crime."

Brooklyn Center Chief Scott Bechtold said he thinks a county focus is best for his city. "Brooklyn Center is not going to join an interim [metro] unit," he said. "First of all, we were never asked, and, second, I would rather explore the possibilities of a Hennepin County collaboration because it addresses more of our needs in the immediate area. A lot of our nexus of crime problems is with Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park. ..."

Some officials are ambivalent about the Hennepin County initiative.

"They are certainly allowed to do it," said West St. Paul Police Chief Manila Shaver, chair of the Strike Force oversight board. "It seems a little disingenuous to me. I am not going to be finger-pointing or criticizing another administrator. ... I recognize these individuals are exploring different alternatives. It is something they need to do."

But he said he was committed to reconstituting the Strike Force because he believes it is the best way to combat gangs.

Dave Bellows, chief deputy with the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, said his county is between Hennepin and Ramsey counties, so a single unified anti-gang unit would be most appropriate for his needs.

The Strike Force, created in 1997, was the subject of a highly critical report by the state legislative auditor on May 20. That audit found that the force could not account for $18,126 of forfeited cash and a large number of seized vehicles.

That night Strike Force members were found shredding documents, and operations were suspended. An FBI investigation has begun, plus an inquiry by a panel appointed by state Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion.

"The general area of metro governance has always been tricky," said Larry Jacobs, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute. "You have a case where there is a need, but the Gang Strike Force has obliterated the confidence of elected officials in Minnesota. The Gang Strike Force has a sort of become radioactive. ..."

Stanek said Hennepin County Sheriff's Capt. Chris Omodt would remain head of the interim metro unit. But he said a possible alternative to deal with Hennepin gangs might be expanding both his department's violent offender task force and criminal information sharing and analysis unit, adding officers from suburban police departments. He said local chiefs want an investigative component, a "suppression" or street presence, and a strong intelligence aspect, to deal with crime analysis and trends. He said the chiefs want to focus on violent crime.

Minneapolis police withdrew from the Strike Force effective Wednesday. Rob Allen, Minneapolis deputy chief, said his department had established a gang enforcement team of eight officers, some of whom were on the force. "At the present time we haven't joined the [metrowide] interim unit, but we are still involved in ongoing discussions on what may happen in the future," he said.

Mike Davis, Brooklyn Park chief, said Hennepin police chiefs are reviewing their needs and available assets. "We are not coming to this with a predetermined product in mind," he said. He said he'd been considering such issues long before the legislative auditor's report.

Randy Furst • 612-673-7382

Recent South Metro stories

Shakopee's Straub makes Top 5 in 'Project Runway' - July 2, 2009

Shakopee's Straub makes Top 5 in 'Project Runway' - On Thursday night's "Project Runway," contestants had to outdo themselves. For Shakopee resident Christopher Straub, it was difficult to improve upon his past success. More