About Sheriff Stanek
Effective. Experienced. Dedicated. A leader we can trust to keep us safe.
Sheriff Richard W. Stanek is the 27th Hennepin County Sheriff. Sheriff Stanek was born and raised in Northeast Minneapolis and is a lifelong resident of Hennepin County. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and earned a masters degree in public administration from Hamline University.
Sheriff Stanek is a veteran of law enforcement who earned several promotions for his dedication and passion for public safety, rising through the ranks within the Minneapolis Police Department. Prior to being elected as the Sheriff of Hennepin County, he served the Minneapolis Police Department as Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division, overseeing investigations in the areas of Homicide, Robbery, Assault, Family Violence, Organized Crime, Narcotics, Gangs and Sex Crimes.
A five-term legislator in the Minnesota House of Representatives, he Chaired the House Crime Policy and Finance Committee. The Sheriff has also managed the largest law enforcement agency in the state when, in 2003, he was appointed Minnesota's Commissioner of Public Safety and Director of Homeland Security.
Sheriff Stanek is considered to be one of Minnesota's foremost experts on crime policy, law enforcement and intelligence-led policing. He co-chairs the national Criminal Intelligence Coordinating Council, advising the U.S. Attorney General and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He is an active member of the National Major County Sheriff's Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Recently, Sheriff Stanek has had the opportunity to share lessons learned from commanding the recovery efforts at the I-35W bridge collapse in August at the local, state and national levels.
In addition to a career dedicated to public safety and public service, Sheriff Stanek actively volunteers his time and energy on a number of boards and community-focused organizations dedicated to working with youth including: Boys & Girls Club of The Twin Cities, Hennepin County Sheriff's Office Foundation and East Side Neighborhood Services.
The Sheriff lives in Maple Grove with his wife and their 2 children.
A Commitment to Public Safety
I first became a police officer in 1984 and I’ve served in law enforcement for over half my life (25 years!). Technology has changed so much in that time; just think back to typewritten police reports filed in triplicate. Our uniforms and equipment have changed. But in my view the most important aspects have never changed:
The best law enforcement officers respect the rights and dignity of all residents, and protect the integrity of law enforcement by upholding both the spirit and the letter of the law.
The best law enforcement officers are connected to the community and work closely with community leaders. The best law enforcement officers view their work not simply as a profession, but as a public service. The best law enforcement officers continue to learn and improve in their work and find ways to educate others about law enforcement.
I am proud to serve as Sheriff of Hennepin County.
Rich Stanek
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