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KATE SMITH: In the recent climate of scrutiny involving police behavior, there have been charges not only of outright harassment and abuse, but of more subtle forms of racism. Two such incidents occurred at a recent Minneapolis City Council meeting. The actions of two undercover Minneapolis police officers at that meeting are being investigated.

In this instance, there were no racial slurs, no physical contact. But what happened, police officials admit, may be indicative of attitudes that need to be changed.

SPEAKERS: Stand up right now. We're going to fight back right now. Stand up right now. We're going to fight back right now. Let's go.

KATE SMITH: The city council meeting on February 24 was the first time members of an ad hoc committee opposed to police brutality addressed the city council. Police officials say there were at least a half dozen plainclothes officers scattered in the crowd, more uniformed officers in a room across the hall. Deputy police chief Doug Smith says the undercover officers present had specific orders.

DOUG SMITH: To strictly blend in with the crowd. There is a very clear message that uniform presence was intimidating to these people. And we therefore, kept the uniform contingent down the hall, out of the way, and a few of the plainclothes people were in the crowd strictly to provide security for the council members.

KATE SMITH: But the actions of two of the plainclothes officers present are now being questioned. Members of the media watched as one officer showed physical signs of repulsion when a Black man sat next to him, moving himself further down the row of seats. Reporters and audience members saw another undercover officer stationed near the back of the room, putting up signs on the council chamber door that read, "Police, protest canceled."

The first time this happened, someone in the crowd took the sign down. The officer put up another sign. It, too, was taken down. And later, during their presentation to the council, leaders of the minority community group briefly mentioned the incident. Group spokesperson, Keith Ellison.

KEITH ELLISON: That's interesting. Somebody wrote, "Police, protest canceled." Here's a good example.

SPEAKER 1: The police did that.

KEITH ELLISON: Police did this?

SPEAKER 1: Yes.

KATE SMITH: Police Chief John Locks and deputy chief Doug Smith admit the two men involved were undercover officers. Smith says the specific action of posting the sign went against the officer's orders.

DOUG SMITH: Directly contradictory. Posting a sign in jest is not called for. That is clearly antagonistic and something that we have to deal with. He'll be called upon the carpet to explain his actions and some sort of discipline will be meted out.

KATE SMITH: For long time, North Minneapolis resident and activist, Kazel Breedlove, the actions are indicative of a much larger problem.

KAZEL BREEDLOVE: I don't think that we're able to get any kind of trust going among the community, especially as a residence community and the police department, because again, there's no respect.

KATE SMITH: Chief John Locks says cultural training will be initiated to help increase community trust and give officers an understanding of racial sensitivity. Chief Locks has said that while the department as a whole is not racist, it's likely there are racist officers. But the chief says he can only regulate their behavior, not their attitude.

JOHN LOCKS: I can deal with their behavior, and their behavior has to demonstrate that they give fair and equal treatment. If inside their heart they are burning up with bias and hate, I can't control that. But what they demonstrate in the way of actions, I can, I can ask that it be fair and equal.

KATE SMITH: Kazel Breedlove says only dealing with superficial behavior won't be enough.

KAZEL BREEDLOVE: We try to make the police force a professional unit. They get all this education, everything else, but still yet they have individuals with this kind of attitude and they got to be weeded out. If they're not, that rotten apple is going to make the whole barrel stink. And if that's what they want, that's when they have a lousy police force.

KATE SMITH: The actions of both police officers at the February 24 council meeting are being investigated. Officials say appropriate action will be taken, but wouldn't elaborate on what that might be. When considered in the current climate of police community relations, incidents like these only add to the problem.

Members of the minority community say posting a sign on a door may not be that serious, but it's symbolic of just how deep the problem is that an overt action like that would happen at a demonstration called to protest just such police behavior. Kazel Breedlove says it's simple, racists can't be cops, he says, because they don't believe we all deserve equal treatment.

KAZEL BREEDLOVE: What we're talking about when we're talking about color, we're only talking about something that's skin deep. That, hey, we're all bleed together, that we all got the same emotions, that the same thing that will make him sick, the same thing that is going to kill him is going to kill me. And that's what he's got to realize.

KATE SMITH: Kazel Breedlove, a long time North Minneapolis resident. I'm Kate Smith, reporting.