December 3, 2007 - Five African American police officers with the Minneapolis police department are suing the department and Chief Tim Dolan for race discrimination. A 37-page complaint alleges the department has a history of discrimination against black officers, and the situation has gotten worse under Dolan. John Klassen is an attorney for the officers.
December 3, 2007 - Five African American officers in the Minneapolis police department have filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the department and police chief Tim Dolan. Dolan denies that his personnel decisions have been based on race. But the officers say the department has a history of racism and the situation has gotten worse during Dolan's tenure as chief.
December 6, 2007 - On Minnesota Public Radio's News Cut blog today, Bob Collins talks with Duy Ngo, the Minneapolis police officer who settled a lawsuit against the city last week, five years after he was gunned down by Officer Charles Storlie with an M5 submachine gun. Ngo was working undercover at the time. He had called for help after being shot by a drug dealer. No officer was ever disciplined in the case and false rumors were leaked about Ngo in an effort to undermine his credibility as a victim. Here's a short segment of the interview in which News Cut's Bob Collins asked Ngo what ONE thing he's heard that made him feel better about his five-year struggle., and what he didn't hear which he wished he had.
December 12, 2007 - Minneapolis police officials presented the department's diversity plan to members of the city council this afternoon. Last week the department and police chief Tim Dolan were sued by five black officers who claim they were denied opportunities to advance because of their race. Dolan has denied that he discriminated against the men. And Wednesday Dolan told councilmembers that Minneapolis has the most diverse police force in the state. But Ralph Remington - the only councilmember to vote against Dolan's appointment - wasn't impressed with that statement.
December 14, 2007 - MPR’s Brandt Williams reports on community concern among some black leaders who fear black police officers’ discrimination lawsuit may discourage people of color from joining the force. Sepic interviews members of MAD DADS of Minneapolis and former police officer Michael Quinn.
December 17, 2007 - Minneapolis police officials say a raid carried out at the wrong house on the city's northside this weekend was the result of faulty information from an informant. Shots were exchanged between the homeowner and police. No one was seriously hurt.
January 17, 2008 - Family members of a Fridley man who died after state troopers used a Taser on him say they're not focusing on how he died at this point. So far there's no official cause of death and autopsy results are pending for 29-year-old Mark Backlund. He was involved in a traffic accident on I-694 on Tuesday. Officials say police used the Taser after he was uncooperative. Backlund's sister, Melanie, says the family is remembering her brother as a man who loved life.
January 17, 2008 - There's still no official cause of death for a Fridley man who died after state police used a Taser on him. Autopsy results are pending while the investigation into the events leading up to the man's death continues.
January 23, 2008 - The city of Golden Valley has settled a police brutality lawsuit for more than one million dollars. A jury ruled that in 2005, two of the city's police officers used excessive force when they detained a man they thought was a bank robber. The man, Al Hixon, is African American. However, the robbery suspect was white. Hixon sued the city and a jury awarded him 778-thousand dollars. The city will pay several hundred thousand more in attorney fees. Attorney Allen Barnard defended the city in the lawsuit.
January 23, 2008 - The Golden Valley city council has approved a one million dollar police brutality lawsuit settlement. Last year a jury ruled that city police officers used excessive force against Al Hixon and awarded him more than 700 thousand dollars. The city asked for a reduction in the award and for a new trial. Both were denied by a federal court judge. Hixon's attorney Andrew Parker says police officers were told that a white man had robbed a bank. But they forcefully detained Hixon, who is African American. Parker says the two officers stepped on Hixon's neck and shot pepper into his face at close range.