Rich Stanek

Richard W. "Rich" Stanek (born February 2, 1962) is an American politician and former law enforcement officer who served as the sheriff of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office from 2007 to 2019.

Prior to serving as sheriff, Stanek served from 1986 to 2006 as a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stanek served from 1995 to 2003 in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He also served from 2003 to 2004 as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety under then-Governor of Minnesota Tim Pawlenty. In 2018, he lost his close bid for re-election as Hennepin County sheriff to newcomer David Hutchinson by just over 2,000 votes.

Stanek was a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination for governor of Minnesota in the 2022 election.

Early life and education Stanek was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Public Administration from Hamline University. He rose in the ranks, serving as Second Precinct commander,

Hennepin County sheriff Stanek was elected Sheriff in 2006, replacing former Sheriff Pat McGowan. Sworn in on January 1, 2007, Stanek was re-elected in 2010 and again in 2014. His term ended January 7, 2019.

Stanek was on the executive committee of the National Sheriffs' Association, serving as vice president.

Controversies 35W bridge collapse video controversy In 2007 Mayor R.T. Rybak and Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan criticized Stanek for providing false information in the 26-minute video on the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge and for taking credit for actions that weren't his responsibility. The $30,000 film was funded with forfeited money earmarked for training. "His theft of the credit is not going to sit well with my staff and our hard working partners," Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan said in an e-mail. The St. Cloud company that produced the video was the same company that handled advertising and marketing for Stanek's campaign in 2006.

Retaliation

Melissa Hill, who ran a campaign against Stanek under the slogan "Kitten for Sheriff" was awarded $15,000 in a federal civil rights settlement against Hennepin County. Hennepin County paid $15,000 to Melissa Hill for allegedly trespassing at Occupy Minneapolis. Hill's attorney Jordan Kushner said that "She was arrested and put in jail for no reason but for retaliation by the sheriff for being a political activist" and that Hill saw Stanek watching her from his SUV before she was arrested. He argued that both her original trespass order and arrest were unconstitutional. Hill was a legal observer for the National Lawyers Guild at that time of the arrest. "I feel I was vindicated," said Hill. "I was arrested on a public sidewalk. This sends a strong message that they can't be misusing their trespass policy to suppress free speech."

Standing Rock, North Dakota In October 2016, Stanek sent Hennepin County deputies and equipment to North Dakota to assist law enforcement efforts there to suppress the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. The personnel sharing, under the auspices of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, sparked protests and was met with criticism from Minneapolis City Council member Alondra Cano, state Senator Patricia Torres Ray, state Representative Peggy Flanagan, and Clyde Bellecourt.

2022 gubernatorial campaign Stanek was a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination for governor of Minnesota in the 2022 election. He was one of six Republican candidates who sought the party's nomination to challenge incumbent Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party Governor Tim Walz.

Personal life Stanek is married and has one son and one daughter. He is Roman Catholic.