Editorial: 'Appalling and outrageous'

Report further details misconduct by Gang Strike Force officers.

Last update: August 21, 2009 - 10:23 AM

Former prosecutor Andy Luger used the phrase "appalling and outrageous" twice during Thursday's news conference and once in his panel's report detailing misconduct by the disbanded Metro Gang Strike Force. Sadly, three times simply doesn't do the sordid findings justice.

Luger and retired FBI special agent John Egelhof found abundant evidence that some Metro Gang Strike Force officers engaged in felony-level criminal activity: treating evidence-room TVs, tools or jewelry as theirs for the taking. Officers allegedly set up shop in certain neighborhoods to shake people down for property or cash. Most of those preyed upon were minorities. Incredibly, the report concludes that some officers grew to believe that certain people did not "deserve" to possess something nice, so it was OK to seize it even if the property was unconnected to criminal activity.

The damage done to public confidence in all law enforcement is incalculable. Yet many former Strike Force officers still don't get it. A good number of them foolishly declined to cooperate with the strike force review panel. They will likely soon be answering to the FBI, which is conducting its own investigation.

Luger and Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion announced welcome measures to begin the long process of rebuilding the public's trust. The report called for a special master with authority to return improperly seized property to its rightful owners. It also astutely recommended a thorough evaluation of Minnesota's forfeiture laws, which may give law enforcement too much discretion in seizing citizens' property. Legislators set to take up the Strike Force in a hearing next week should make an evaluation of these laws a top priority.

The Luger and Egelhof report makes some smart recommendations about the Twin Cities' next-generation gang-fighting strategy. It advises against a stand-alone agency and calls for an approach with two things the old strike force lacked: strong oversight and a clear mission. The Twin Cities law enforcement community is already discussing this new approach. It'd do well to consider this additional step -- getting public input. It was the community that suffered at the hands of this rogue agency. Citizens deserve a say in what the next effort will look like.

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