Law enforcement announces collaboration to combat group and gang violence
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More than 40 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on Monday announced a collaboration under the Crime Gun Intelligence Center to address what they described as gang and group violence.
Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said in a news conference more information will be shared across the board with all seven counties in the Twin Cities metro area. Evans said the agencies will share intelligence, enhance information sharing and prevent violence through proactive measures.
“We brought together 40-plus different law enforcement agencies to figure out exactly what would be the most beneficial as we work together to help bring safety to our communities across all of Minnesota, but in particular in the Twin Cities metropolitan area,” Evans said.
The announcement comes after three recent non-fatal shootings in Edina, Bloomington and Eden Prairie that law enforcement have characterized as related to gang violence renewed the conversation about gang and group violence. Law enforcement have described it as a result of violence among Somali youth.
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The Crime Gun Intelligence Center is spearheaded by the bureau, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The FBI and ATF said they will focus on the most dangerous individuals to take cases federal, including charges under the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act — commonly known as RICO charges — when appropriate.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Joe Persails said ATF restructured its investigative group so one of its two enforcement groups can exclusively focus on investigating gang-related violence while the other prioritizes shootings.
Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt introduced the Hennepin Enhanced Enforcement Team, which she said will include analysts and deputies from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, Minneapolis Police Department, University of Minnesota Police Department, DEA and ATF to focus on the recent violence.
Many law enforcement agencies have called for a regional gang task force. Evans didn’t rule out the idea entirely.
“I'll tell you that going forward, if this is a persistent or maintained issue going forward, that we certainly can look at a specific task force,” Evans said. “But this hits the ground running right now and brings more resources together and builds upon the work that's already been done.”
The state previously had a Metro Gang Strike Force, which was broken up in 2009 after allegations against its officers of improper seizures, stealing evidence and improper investigative techniques.
Evans said the partnership will differ from the strike force, and noted the task forces they already have are under the oversight of the Violent Crime Coordinating Council. Each task force has boards that audit for improper conduct, he said.
“There's a number of different checks and balances that are there in that particular process,” Evans said. “Even for the Crime Gun Intelligence Center, we have an adviser attached to us that we've asked for from the attorney general’s office to ensure that we're meeting all legal criteria and what we're doing.”
Edina Police Chief Todd Milburn, a 29-year veteran, said the difference between now and the past is departments are more collaborative sharing information.
“Now, different than what we had years ago, is more of a robust intelligence unit or several units that are across the metro area, getting them on the same page and providing that intelligence based on those facts right, and those criteria, and feeding it out to officers who are actually in the field doing the important work,” he said.
Law enforcement agencies around the metro area referring to the alleged perpetrators of some of the crimes as “Somali Gangs” have worried some that Somali Americans are being unfairly targeted.
There are 1,000 to 2,000 gang members in the metro area, 300 of whom are Somali Americans, according to Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher. Fletcher said members of the Highs and Lows are still active in Minneapolis and on social media.
Bloomington Police chief Booker Hodges and Witt have both condemned the stereotyping of the Somali community and said the actions of some Somali youth don't define the whole community.
