Some critics of the candidate for Hennepin County sheriff have forgiven his past sins and signed on to his campaign.

Barely two years ago, Rich Stanek resigned as Minnesota's public safety commissioner after many leaders in Twin Cities minority communities resurrected racist comments he made in a court deposition more than a decade before.

Now, in a dramatic turnabout that has been greeted with some skepticism, many of those same people are enthusiastically endorsing Stanek's bid to be Hennepin County sheriff.

Stanek's campaign packet is full of photos that stress his political redemption, including one that features him with members of the African American Leadership Summit and the Black Church Coalition. At Karmel Plaza, a small Somali shopping village in south Minneapolis, Stanek campaign signs dot store windows. The Rev. Randy Staten, another key black voice in north Minneapolis, has a Stanek campaign sign in his front yard.

Al McFarlane, president of Insight News, a newspaper aimed at the local black community, has acknowledged that while he "roasted" and "toasted" Stanek in the past, he now is a big supporter.

"Everybody can change," McFarlane said of Stanek, a Republican from suburban Maple Grove and a Minneapolis police captain. "Our paper believes in redemption."

Insight News endorsed Stanek before the Sept. 12 primary, saying that while others still challenge Stanek for his racial remarks, Stanek had "confronted his own past" and "is a better man for it."Nobody in my community ever thought he was a monster, or was a bad person. He said some
bad things," McFarlane added.

ROAD TO REDEMPTION

Stanek's original comments date to a court deposition that was related to a 1992 police brutality lawsuit brought against him. In the deposition, he acknowledged that he had used, on occasion, a racial slur aimed at blacks.

Although he said in the deposition that the term was inappropriate, and should not be used in public, he added that "if I express an opinion or say a word within the confines of my home ... that's my own business."

The deposition shadowed Stanek when he successfully ran for the Legislature beginning in the mid-1990s and, more critically, led to his sudden resignation as he was awaiting Senate confirmation in 2004 as state public safety commissioner. Keith Ellison, a state legislator who is now the DFL-endorsed candidate in the Fifth Congressional District, called for Stanek's resignation.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty said the deposition "was immediately a concern" when he learned of it, and then reportedly pressured Stanek to resign. Now, though, Pawlenty has sponsored a fundraiser for Stanek and is an honorary cochairman of the Stanek for Sheriff Committee.

Brian McClung, the governor's campaign spokesman, said Pawlenty "has always respected Rich's excellent work ethic, strong background in public safety and desire to serve the public."

Stanek's newfound acceptance has left some puzzled.

"What kind of promises is he making to those people?" asked Juan Lopez, a Hennepin County juvenile probation worker and the DFL-endorsed candidate for sheriff who finished a distant second to Stanek in the September primary. Lopez will oppose Stanek in the November general election.
"Previous behavior is usually a strong prediction of future behavior," he said, adding, "I've talked to FBI agents, I've talked to important people. They call him a schoolyard bully."

Linda Lachner, an American Indian police officer in Minneapolis and sheriff's candidate who was eliminated in the primary, said: "I think once he gets elected sheriff that his true colors will be known again."

'TOUGHEST TWO HOURS'

Stanek said his road back to acceptance began after his resignation when he returned to the Minneapolis Police Department and then-Chief Bill McManus urged him to meet with community leaders.

"It was the toughest two hours of my life," Stanek said of the meeting at a south Minneapolis church. "I explained that I'm not the sum of all evils."

Al Flowers, who has featured Stanek as a guest on his weekly cable television show, "Holding People Accountable," said: "I believe he was sincere in his apology." Charlie Adams, vice president of the Minneapolis Black Police Officers Association, was equally supportive. "Do I believe he's a racist?" asked Adams. "No, not at all."

Stanek's endorsement by black leaders -- most of whom also are backing Ellison's race for Congress -- has left Ellison in a ticklish political predicament.

It was Ellison who was at the forefront of a news conference calling for Stanek's resignation on the day Stanek abruptly resigned. Now Ellison is facing repeated questions about his own past, including his ties to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakan, as he campaigns to be the first black to represent Minnesota in Congress.

James Leinfelder, Ellison's outgoing communications director, said Ellison was "happy to learn Mr. Stanek has mended some fences." He said Ellison, who is supporting Lopez, is "not the kind of guy that likes to demonize people."

As he sits at his desk in south Minneapolis, Abdulkadir Hashi said he does not find it ironic that he has decorated his office with campaign signs for both Stanek and Ellison. Hashi is the president of the Somali Business Association of North America, and is another honorary cochairman of Stanek's campaign. Other politicians, he said, can learn from Ellison and Stanek on how to reach out to minorities.

"I hope people will see a new Richard Stanek," he said. But, he added, "I hope next time he will watch what comes out of his mouth."

Stanek Chairs advisory committee to US Attorney General

GLOBAL Intelligence Task Group.
This task group advises the US Atty General on issues related to intelligence and information sharing.

Stanek chaired this task team related to law enforcement and corrections.  The other members included leaders from the National Sheriffs Association, US Marshals, Federal Probation and Parole, etc... from throughout the criminal justice system.

Corrections and Law Enforcement Intelligence and Information Sharing Recommendations will be developed regarding how to leverage and enhance collection and sharing of information and intelligence between law enforcement and the correctional community.  Prisons and jails have a wealth of information and intelligence that they can share with criminal justice and homeland security agencies, and mechanisms should be built to ensure effective and efficient bidirectional sharing of information and intelligence.  

Illegal guns flooding into Minneapolis
April 29, 2006 - Star Tribune

"That task force operates with two hooks -- connecting gang leadership to criminal activity involving guns and drugs," said Capt. Rich Stanek, head of the department's investigations unit.

Hennepin County sheriff to retire
April 26, 2006 - Pioneer Press

Patrick McGowan, who has been Hennepin County's top law-enforcement officer since 1994, announced Wednesday he plans to retire as sheriff and not seek another term.

McGowan, 55, said he was wearying of the growing amount of time that numerous county, state and federal initiatives and associations was taking from him.

"I know I do not have the energy to continue to do them all justice," said McGowan, whose term will end Dec. 31. "If I continued in office, I know I would not slow down and, simply put, I am growing tired."

So far, the only announced candidate for Hennepin County sheriff in November's election is Rich Stanek. He is currently a Minneapolis police commander, and has served as a state legislator and commissioner of the Department of Public Safety.

McGowan was elected sheriff in 1994. He spent 20 years as a Minneapolis police officer, and spent the last six of those years also serving as a state senator.

Last year, the National Sheriff's Association named McGowan the winner of its Ferris E. Lucas Award for Sheriff of the Year. He was the first Minnesota sheriff to be selected for the honor.

He has held positions in a number of national law enforcement organizations, and last year served as head of the National Sheriff's Association Weapons of Mass Destruction Committee. In that role, he has traveled to Israel and Northern Ireland to confer with other law enforcement officials on the use of such weapons.

Capt. Stanek jumps into race for sheriff.
April 13, 2006 - Star Tribune
The race for Hennepin County sheriff heated up Thursday, with Minneapolis police captain and former state Public Safety Commissioner Rich Stanek announcing that he will be a candidate.

Click here for full article.

Politics In Minnesota
April Newsletter

So how did Republican Rich Stanek evolve into a candidate for Hennepin County Sheriff when the current three-term GOP incumbent Sheriff Pat McGowan has not yet announced plans to retire?

Insiders have always assumed that Stanek was the natural heir apparent to run for the job. While Stanek and McGowan stayed in cordial contact the last year, McGowan kept putting off the date when he would make a decision. In fact, McGowan still hasn't decided. Precinct caucuses have come and gone and the Hennepin County GOP endorsing convention looms on the horizon. 

Hence the decision last November by Stanek to put together an exploratory committee . Running for Hennepin County sheriff is a daunting endeavor. The county has a population of 1.2 million; and, it is represented by 20 state Senate and 33 state House seats. At the March 7 th precinct caucuses more than 40 cops stumped for Stanek. 

As McGowan kept putting off his decision, people working for McGowan started looking for other jobs, and people also remembered that McGowan destroyed his lawn signs after his second term election. Then there is the fundraising. Stanek's folks think they'll need to raise about quarter of a million. Plus, there are some 3,400 Hennepin County endorsing delegates and alternates to schmooz. 

Stanek felt he had no other choice. Delaying entry into the race would jeopardize what should be a victory. The popular McGowan has done a terrific job but he should pass the mantle on to Stanek. The current Captain of Minneapolis' Central Investigations Division for homicides, gangs, and narcotics, former Commissioner of Public Safety and legislator is uniquely situated to be sheriff. 

GOVERNOR PAWLENTY SECURES GRANT FROM NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION TO ENCOURAGE JUSTICE INFORMATION SHARING

~Minnesota will receive $50,000 from the National Governor's Association Center for Best Practices to benefit the Comprehensive Incident-Based Reporting System (CIBRS) project at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension ~

Saint Paul, MN - In an effort to encourage justice information sharing among states, Governor Tim Pawlenty secured a $50,000 grant from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices to benefit the Comprehensive Incident-Based Reporting System (CIBRS) project at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA).

The grants are given to states for pilot projects to implement criminal justice information technology and for participation in NGA's Center for Best Practices Policy Academy .  In particular, this year's round of grants will enable states to use the Global XML Data Model, the national technology standard for justice information sharing. This is the second round of grants from the NGA center.

"This grant provides us with additional technology to enhance the quality and efficiency of services within Minnesota 's criminal justice system," Governor Pawlenty said.  "The technology equips law enforcement, public safety agencies, prosecutors, and public defenders with an invaluable tool to improve justice information sharing at every level."

CIBRS is an investigative tool for law enforcement to share incident information. Law enforcement agencies around the state will be able to send data from their local records systems to the state database at the BCA and also access that information for investigative purposes.

Development of CIBRS will aid the CriMNet program effort to establish a standards for incident reporting across the state - which will help law enforcement agencies move toward standardizing their business practices and enhance reusability and accuracy of criminal justice information.

The CriMNet Program Office, also a part of the BCA, encourages information sharing among criminal justice agencies and helps develop standards and policies to enable information sharing statewide. It has been working to develop technology standards for exchanging criminal justice information, including using the national standards and creating Minnesota-specific extensions to those national standards.

 "This grant award is a testament to the progress the CriMNet Program has made toward filling the gaps in justice information sharing in Minnesota ," said Michael Campion, commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. "For law enforcement, the CIBRS project fills the greatest information-sharing need, and this grant will help us focus resources on making additional progress in linking agencies."

New task force fights gang crime
David Chanen, Star Tribune

When Minneapolis police Lt. Mike Carlson took command of the newly formed Violent Offender    Task Force in January, the unofficial mantra -- focus on results, not process -- seemed like a no-brainer.

Similar initiatives had failed because participating agencies needed to work by a different set of rules, or county and federal prosecutors fought over who handled cases.

But none of these issues has surfaced so far, allowing the task force to wipe out the leadership of two feuding Minneapolis gangs and clear the streets of an emerging young and violent gang.

Minneapolis Police Chief Bill McManus said the success of the eight-member task force, which includes the rare assignment of an agent from both the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, has surpassed his expectations.

The numbers don't lie: 26 federal indictments or charges, 23 state felony charges, 45 recovered guns, 29 search warrants and 76 arrests.

The task force has become Minneapolis ' proactive gang investigative unit, something that hasn't existed within the police department for at least five years, said Capt. Rich Stanek .

Among other things, the task force uses past criminal histories to help build new cases against several gang members instead of trying to nab individuals hanging around on street corners for an offense that carries little jail time.

"This is the antithesis of anything we've ever done," said Stanek, who developed the concept.

It's hard to determine the task force's direct impact on the city's reported serious crime, which has increased by 10 percent compared to this time last year. People are still being shot, but there hadn't been a homicide in nearly six weeks until a man was shot to death downtown Tuesday.

The task force was responsible for felony gun charges against Dion L. Sledge, who authorities believe may have shot a 10-year-old boy playing football outside with friends in July.

They also worked up a case against well-known gang member Lamont Grayson, a felon charged with illegally owning a gun who has been shot at three times in the past month, police said.

"Our greatest prevention is not waiting for the next crime," Carlson said.

The task force targets people who always seem to be around violent crimes, but "are still out there" because investigators lacked physical evidence on a case or witnesses were afraid to come forward, Carlson said.   Many of these offenders are street gang members.

All means available

First on the task force's list were the Shotgun Crips and Vice Lords, two established gangs that have been shooting at each other for years. The Crips deal cocaine and its members have either been suspects or victims in 35  homicides in the past decade, Stanek said.

Carlson didn't want to discuss specific cases, but in general said task force members start tracking offenders' whereabouts and look at previous crimes that couldn't be charged.

The FBI agent on the task force provided access to national databases unavailable to local police and could quickly work out-of-state connections to look for gang members, said Michael Tabman, special agent in charge of the FBI's Minneapolis office.

The agency's expertise in criminal enterprise helps develop conspiracy cases that    lock up entire groups rather than just individuals, he said. This technique successfully dismantled organized crime groups like the Mafia and major drug cartels, he said.

Since weapon charges often bring longer prison sentences for violent offenders, the ATF offers key tracing and analysis data from recovered guns, said Bernard Zapor, special agent in charge in Minnesota.

Working together

To give investigators better direction as they assembled cases, Carlson proposed a central clearinghouse of prosecutors working together from the Hennepin County and U.S. attorney's offices.

That wasn't a problem since there was already strong cooperation between the two offices, said County Attorney Amy Klobuchar. Neither she nor U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger hesitated to commit to Carlson's idea, recognizing that each office brings its own strengths.

The federal system is well-suited to major, long-term investigations while the state can quickly respond to getting criminals off the streets, Heffelfinger said.

"In conspiracy cases, we methodically keep prosecuting people until we get to the    leader of the gang and then throw the book at the leader," Heffelfinger said. "We're nailing entire operations, but the goal of both offices is to get the maximum time for any given offender."

Eight members of the Shotgun Crips gang have pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute large amounts of marijuana since at least 2000, authorities said. Some also pleaded to using a gun in connection with the drug activity.

Bill Joe Coleman, also known as "Boss Hog," and Telles Powell of the Detroit Boys gang pleaded guilty to similar charges involving cocaine. Cordova Lynch, the alleged leader of the Vice Lords gang, has a trial scheduled in December. The men who have pleaded are expected to get a minimum of five years in prison, but several may receive 20 years.

The Tre-Tre Crips, a young gang that has a reputation for not being afraid to settle differences with guns, has been less active this summer because of the task force's constant pressure, police said.

The task force is the U.S. attorney's key gang initiative for Minneapolis , Heffelfinger said.

Carlson  said his task force isn't claiming to have destroyed any particular gang, but they have removed a large part of their leadership. Like cockroaches, others rise up, he said.

"We've heard from gang members themselves about the effect we've had," he said.

McManus said the task force complements work done by patrol officers and other specialty units such as STOP, which can quickly hit hot spots throughout the    city. He hopes to expand the task force, and it appears St. Paul is going to start something similar.

Rich Stanek lends support to Senators Coleman-Burns-Baucus-Pryor bipartisan Meth Task Force
January 20, 2006

To address the increasing dangers Methamphetamines exact on our nation’s communities and families, Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN), Conrad Burns (R-MT), Max Baucus (D-MT), and Mark Pryor (D-AR) held a National Town Hall on Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention on Monday, January 23, 2006. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Drug Czar John Walters of the Office of National Drug Control Policy made opening remarks and during the three panel sessions during the town hall, the senators were joined by state and national panelists, including drug enforcement officials, rehabilitative services personnel, and former users of meth who have experienced the devastating and tragic effects of the synthetically-made drug. The event had been assembled as a national forum in which to understand the use and widespread impact of the drug, as well as seek ways to inform the public, deter use, and examine possible legislative initiatives to further combat meth.

For more information visit www.coleman.senate.gov.