Nothing worse than cops going bad.

Thanks Chris Baker for taking the Star/Tribune to task for their liberal censorship.

This is a good recap of the story so far and the great reporting that Randy Furst and the Strib have done on this sad tale of police corruption. But the article ends and doesn't tell us anything about the status of any investigation. There are more details yet to be revealed and the officers involved must be held accountable!

live long enough to become everything you despise

I still admire officers for the job they have. It is a hard, often unthankful job.I hope that the public can forgive the police force and restart a gang task force again. While we investigate(which is needed) the gangs are still doing there thing. Please support our officers.

Sad but true but just like in war you can't wage the battle without getting dirty. Dealing with garbage everyday will turn even the most dedicated person sour.

The reality is that these people are no better than the criminals they're pursuing. It sounds like half of this group was simply out to get their hands on whatever they could, and they didn't have to justify themselves to anyone. Why should we forgive these people? Ryan talks like nothing was done wrong. There's half the problem right there: these police officers think that because of their job, they are entitled to take what they want, that it is owed to them. Their jobs are to enforce the law, and it gives way too many cops the "high and mighty" feeling. Besides all that, it is a complete disregard for our personal freedoms when cops start deciding who to take action against based on what their return will be. I hope the feds give it to these sorry excuses for humans.

The lack of accountability for officer misconduct has lead to a Minneapolis police department where bullies roam free and lying is commonplace. We need an independent state-run board with the power to investigate officer misconduct,...and to discipline, fire, and file criminal charges when needed. This is something that any honest cop should welcome and support.

I think the Star-Trib has done a wonderful job reporting on the Metro Gang Task force and the problems with the unit. However, I think the claim the task force targeted minorities is somewhat overstated. It's not like white gang members in Apple Valley or Wayzata are shooting one another on a routine basis. Unfortunately the neighborhoods most impacted by gang violence in Minnesota are predominately poor and predominately minority. You can't sugar coat reality and the implication that any of the task force's actions were done with sole intent of harassing minorities ignores the reality cops and our minority citizen's face every day.....namely, a disproportionate number of Minnesota crime victims are in fact our minority citizens. While I agree some of the task force's actions are WAY out of line. We can't ignore the good work done in keeping our streets just a bit safer.

Authoritarian personalities should not be hired, armed and put into power positions against the public.

The 'Strike Force' corruption is clear. Other agencies sent their rogues to join the rogues. They were so poor they needed to steal, just to make ends meet? "Search and Seizure" is a police procedure? What about the other one, the Bill of Rights article - PROHIBITING SEARCH AND SEIZURE!!!

These people are common thieves and bullies. If they can justify taking other people's property because 1)"they don't deserve it," 2)"we need the money," 3)"it's nicer stuff than we have at home," 4)"I didn't do it, I waited outside", "it wasn't me who took stuff," 5)"The Attorney General said I could"...

Those are pleas heard every day from criminals trying to justify their actions.

Comments here range from forgiveness (where's the confession, remorse and contrition that needs to come first?), to outright justification ("it's a dirty job" and "it's a 'war'" in which "you get dirty"). WHAT?

Others here rightfully ask for accountability. It will not hurt to look at the records of each Strike Force member in their entirety. It is the public's right to know who these people are and why they are still on the payroll. They would not be poor under an officer's salary, without debt or spending that should raise questions also.

These "public servants" need to be treated the same way any suspect would be treated. Charges need to be brought and justice served. To cover this up any more is to admit we have 2 kinds of gang problems, both are enemies of the peace.

Thank you to the Strib reporter and to the brave men and women who pursue this story of police gang activity until justice is served.

That is the only way to restore confidence in the MPD. Every citizen and officer of good character will benefit by transparency and accountability. We can only hope the parties who lost property, go beat up, had their homes trashed or served jail times unfairly at the hands of these people also can receive justice.