The Panel was formed on May 26, 2009 at the request of the Commissioner of Public Safety, Michael Campion and following the Metro Gang Strike Force Special Review report by the Financial Audit Division Report of the Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA).
The OLA report found that: "The Metro Gang Strike Force's internal controls were not adequate to safeguard seized and forfeited property, properly authorize its financial transactions, accurately record its financial activity in the accounting records, and conduct its financial activities in a reasonable and prudent manner."
The panel's report further describes their history and charge: "Following the issuance of the Legislative Auditor's report, on the night of May 20, a number of Strike Force officers were observed shredding documents at the Strike Force offices. At that time, the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety shut down the Strike Force pending further investigation by this Panel and the F.B.I. This Panel was originally charged by the Commissioner of Public Safety with: (1) recommending policies and procedures to implement the findings of the Legislative Auditor so that the Strike Force could be re-opened in early July; and (2) conducting an investigation into the conduct giving rise to the auditor's findings. The Commissioner requested that the Panel report any potentially criminal conduct to the F.B.I. The Panel was tasked to work independently and to report back to the Commissioner as to its findings and recommendations."