Interim unit to fight gangs in metro

Five police officers and three sheriff's deputies from the Twin Cities were named Tuesday by an oversight board to an interim anti-gang unit to fill the gap while the Metro Gang Strike Force remains suspended indefinitely and under investigation.

They'll report for duty Monday at the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension building in St. Paul.

The interim unit could remain in place for several months, awaiting the outcome of an FBI investigation and a state inquiry. The FBI is looking at whether the Strike Force engaged in wrongdoing, while a state panel assembled by Public Safety Commissioner Michael Campion is developing recommendations on anti-gang procedures and a long-range plan.

Last week, Campion told the Metro Gang Strike Force Advisory Board that he needed a minimum of eight officers for an interim unit to be viable, and that's what he got Tuesday, with one officer each from the police departments of Lino Lakes, Richfield, Maplewood, West St. Paul and St. Paul, and a single deputy each from sheriff's departments in Dakota, Washington and Ramsey counties.

Bob Fletcher, the Ramsey County sheriff, proposed a second deputy, one with no street experience but familiarity with gangs because of in-custody interviews she conducted in the jail where she was working. The board decided to postpone a decision on her until there is more clarity on what the new unit needs. The board will meet again Wednesday.

The interim unit will be headed by Capt. Chris Omodt of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, with Brian Coyle, a St. Paul police commander, as assistant commander.

The Strike Force came under fire from the Legislative auditor in May for its failure to account for seized vehicles and other property. More than $18,000 in seized funds could not be found. Because of the FBI's preliminary investigation launched in May, Campion insisted that no current Strike Force members serve on the interim unit. The FBI has yet to say publicly whether it has found any crimes were committed.

Campion said the new unit is temporary and not designed to do long-term investigative work. It will be made up of "good people who are highly motivated" and will be primarily assisting local agencies, going to events where gang members might be present and getting information out to other agencies about gang activity, he said.

Rich Stanek, the Hennepin County sheriff, said, "Based on discussion today in the advisory board meeting, it is clear that this interim unit is not an investigative task force, but rather more focused on suppression activities." He praised its strong emphasis on information-sharing with other agencies and on analysis.

Bob Bushman, statewide Gang and Drug Task Force coordinator, outlined the credentials of each of the eight law enforcement officers. Their names were not disclosed. That is because six members of the original Strike Force sued the Department of Public Safety for providing the Star Tribune with the names of the six officers who went to Hawaii for a conference on Asian gangs in March -- a trip criticized at the time by Omodt, who became Strike Force commander in January.

The six officers contended that making their names public endangered them because they periodically engage in undercover work. The Public Safety Department has said their names were disclosed at a public meeting of the board. Because that issue is still under litigation, the board decided not to make public the eight interim officers' names.