Remarks from Sheriff Stanek
Sep 20, 2016
Sheriff Richard Stanek, Hennepin County
Remarks from Sheriff Stanek

Richard W. Stanek the 27th Sheriff of Hennepin County and he is serving his third term as Sheriff. In 2007, he was first sworn in, and was re-elected in 2014.
Upon taking office in 2007, Sheriff Stanek redirected the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office mission to include fighting violent crime, leveraging technology to prevent crime, and enhancing outreach with diverse communities. These initiatives are conducted in partnerships with local law enforcement agencies and they have contributed to an historic decrease in violent crime countywide.


A 30-year veteran of law enforcement, Sheriff Stanek began his career in the Minneapolis Police Department. While a police officer, he was elected five times to the Minnesota State Legislature where he authored the state’s felony DWI law. On the national level, Sheriff Stanek participated in President Obama’s law enforcement working group that addressed the intersection of mental illness and gun violence.​ 


Throughout his career, Sheriff Stanek has created opportunities to connect at-risk kids with positive role models. He founded the Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation, which provides programs for disadvantaged youth and supports Sheriff’s Office volunteers. And, he serves in leadership roles for local non-profit groups that help youth including Treehouse and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities.


Sheriff Stanek is president of the Minnesota Sheriffs’ Association. On the national level, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce appointed him to the board of FirstNet which is developing a wireless broadband network for public safety. He is on the board of directors for the National Sheriffs’ Association and he is the immediate past president of the Major County Sheriffs’ Association. Sheriff Stanek earned a Criminal Justice Degree from the University of Minnesota, and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Hamline University.