Five longtime high-ranking Minneapolis black police officers are suing the department alleging they faced discrimination and were repeatedly passed over for promotions and special assignments. To read the lawsuit, go to www.startribune.com. Lt. Lee Edwards: Was demoted from inspector of Fourth Precinct, on the North Side, to a lieutenant in investigations in the First Precinct downtown in August after an internal affairs investigation into allegations of drinking and making inappropriate sexual comments around colleagues; was also head of homicide unit.

Lt. Don Harris: Served as a deputy chief under former Chief Bill McManus and was demoted by current Chief Tim Dolan last year to a lieutenant in the Fourth Precinct.

Lt. Medaria Arradondo: Was acting inspector and commander of strategic crimes unit under McManus. Claims he was demoted to a lieutenant on the Community Response Team shortly after Dolan gave him a position that made him second in command of the Fourth Precinct.

Sgt. Charlie Adams: Known as one of the city's top homicide detectives, Adams was reassigned last week to the Fourth Precinct's investigative unit after he publicly disputed his supervisor's account about the motive in the Sept. 12 beating death of bicyclist Mark Loesch.

Sgt. Dennis Hamilton: Claims Dolan fired him Nov. 19 but allowed him to return on a "last- chance" agreement where he can be terminated without recourse if he gets into trouble within the next five years. Underwent treatment for alcohol abuse after being charged with fifth-degree domestic assault this summer.