document: Allegations of police racism and brutality have shaken this city that for decades has prided itself on a progressive attitude toward civil rights and a reputation for racial harmony . The deaths of two blacks at a drug raid that went awry , followed 10 days later by a scuffle between police and blacks at a downtown hotel , touched off an outcry by minority leaders for an outside review of the department . `` It 's like a watch spring . You can only wind the watch so tightly before it 's going to snap . I think we 're approaching that breaking point , '' said Van Hayden , 25 , a student who says police beat him at the hotel . The city 's police chief , John Laux , says there is no reason to assume the department would be immune to a problem that is present in all segments of society . `` The whole society to different degrees has problems of racism , '' he said . In a letter to police supervisors in mid-February , Laux said : `` Let me make one thing perfectly clear _ any act of bias will be dealt with directly and severely . There will be no tolerance for that type of inexcusable behavior . '' Since former Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey , then a 35-year-old mayor running for the U.S. Senate , electrified the 1948 Democratic National Convention with his historic speech in support of civil rights , Minneapolis has been viewed as a liberal , progressive city . Some , including Hayden , say that image now blocks progress . `` I think this city has to wake up . Everyone always says , ` I ca n't believe this is happening in Minnesota , in Minneapolis , the home of progressiveness . ' That is real tricky , '' Hayden said . `` If we get preoccupied with the image of the city , we 're not going to be able to thoroughly address the problems we 're facing . '' `` The liberal image is a false picture , '' said Chris Nisan , a University of Minnesota student who has been involved in recent protests . In a series of rallies in recent weeks , protesters demanded that officers involved in the drug raid be suspended , charges against those arrested at the hotel be dropped , and that a citizen police review board be established . City Council voted last week to study the problem . `` There are bad apples in every bunch and the Minneapolis Police Department is no exception , '' said Councilwoman Sayles Belton . `` I do n't think they -LRB- the good officers -RRB- are pleased with the few that are giving them the bad rap _ the spoilers . '' Lloyd Smalley , 71 , and Lillian Weiss , 65 , were killed Jan. 25 in a fire that started after police hurled a stun grenade into their apartment , where others also lived , during a drug raid . No one conducting the raid knew the elderly people were living there , said Laux . A grand jury decided not to bring charges against any officers , but an FBI investigation is continuing . In the hotel scuffle , police said they responsed to a call of a loud party . Partygoers alleged that officers used the term `` nigger , '' and beat some of those arrested . Laux said his officers have denied using racial names and said protesters lied about the number of people receiving medical attention following the arrests . Gleason Glover , president of the Minneapolis Urban League , which works for interracial cooperation , said police racism has been a problem since he took over the league position 21 years ago . `` The matter of police misconduct and brutality has been going on for at least the 21 years I 've been here , but I think the deaths pushed the issue beyond the point of tolerance that usually is the case in matters of police misconduct , '' Glover said . `` There is deep resentment in both the black community and among police officers with regard to how they feel they are perceived by each other ... I do not see a quick fix solution to it , '' Glover said . Allegations of police misconduct currently are reviewed by a panel appointed by the mayor . The panel can only make recommendations . Laux opposes establisment of a citizen panel to look into police actions . `` The key point is that any time the head of the police department can not hire , fire or impose discipline , you are no longer in charge , '' he said . Laux said the 750-member department , which includes 62 minority members and 68 white women , will begin cultural awareness training for all officers , probably this fall . `` We need to get more education about ourselves and about everyone else . Our goal is to find out who can offer that to us and in what form , '' said Laux . `` But it must be thoughtful and be done by the right people . ''
extractive_keyphrases: police racism brutality civil rights racial harmony drug raid police misconduct