Earlier this month, several high-ranking African-American police officers sued the Minneapolis Police Department and its chief for racial discrimination. The complaint claims that unfair treatment of African American officers has worsened during Chief Tim Dolan's tenure as chief and interim chief since March 2006. Filed on behalf of five black lieutenants and sergeants, the suit alleges that officers of color were disciplined more harshly than their white counterparts and were denied opportunities for promotions and prime assignments. The action contends that the department has done little to correct a racially hostile work environment in violation of equal employment opportunity law. Dolan talked with members of the Star Tribune Editorial Board last week about the action. Here are excerpts: On the impact of the lawsuit: It contributes to a rift in our department. I have to work hard to make sure that rift doesn't get any larger and try to repair it. I'm not going to wait until a lawsuit gets settled -- that will take too long. I have to create a special dialogue with officers of color. I don't want this [suit] tearing my department apart.

On the low number of high-ranking black officers:

We do have a hole there, and I realize that. A series of unfortunate events [including disciplinary actions] created that hole. I've been in this job for 11 months -- give me some time. It is a goal of mine to make sure we have diversity in the ranks from bottom to top.

On his disciplinary decisions: I considered some of the officers friends, rising stars ... so it was hard when three of the five officers were disciplined. I have a tough standard; I've raised the bar on domestic assault and alcohol. That's not looked at so favorably by organized labor, but I think it's appropriate. Fourteen people have been terminated or resigned [by request] since I've been here; four were people of color.

On the federally mediated agreement the department reached in 2003 with community groups concerned about racism in the department: The lawsuit makes it sound as if it's illegal that some provisions haven't yet been done. We have a five-year agreement to get them done and we haven't reached that five years yet. Remember, it is not a federally mandated agreement -- it is a voluntary process. The feds expect us to work together to get it done.

On specific charges against Dolan in the suit: The complaint is the first I've heard about some of those allegations. I wish I would have known so we could have talked about them. I can say there are some personal things in there that never happened. That's just lowball cheap stuff. Knowing the officers involved, they wouldn't have put those things in there; they are quality people, they are gentlemen. Others were headed down [the lawsuit] road -- even before the officers were disciplined.

On the department's reputation as a racist, discriminatory operation: The strongest way to change that perception is diversifying the Police Department. Bottom line: It's going to be dialogue, mentoring, leadership training and diversifying from the bottom up.

On revealing the truth through the lawsuit: I feel comfortable that we'll be able to answer the vast majority of those allegations. That's not to diminish my concern about what this suit can do in terms of damage within the Police Department. A suit like this raises questions. Part of the work I have to do is dealing with the smoke -- even if there is no fire.