Inver Grove Heights police chief accused of tipping off theft suspect

Inver Grove Heights' top cop may face an internal investigation after he was accused of alerting a suspect in a theft investigation to a planned search of his property.

Chief Larry Stanger was the subject of a recent criminal investigation by the Scott County Sheriff's Office. Documents from the closed investigation — which did not result in criminal charges — detail the allegations against him.

Stanger, a nearly 30-year veteran of the Police Department who was named chief in 2012, was placed on paid administrative leave in April.

According to investigation documents, Steven Hirman told an officer that Stanger had alerted him to a search of his auto detailing shop. Both men said in interviews with investigators that their sons are longtime friends.

Inver Grove Heights police searched Hirman's shop in Prescott, Wis., on Feb. 25 in collaboration with the Prescott Police Department and the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. GPS tracking of suspects connected to stolen construction equipment had led Inver Grove investigators to the shop, and they expected to find stolen vehicles there.

When they arrived, they found illicit drugs including methamphetamines, drug paraphernalia and guns, but not the equipment they were looking for. Hirman arrived during the search and was arrested on suspicion of drug possession.

Hirman could not be reached for comment. He was charged Feb. 26, and the case remains open.

After its investigation of Stanger, the Scott County Sheriff's Office requested a review of formal charges of public corruption and violation of data privacy laws. The case was referred to Scott County to avoid a conflict of interest.

The Scott County attorney declined to press charges, but Stanger could still face an internal employment investigation, according to a city news release last week. The Inver Grove Heights city manager did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

The Scott County investigation includes interviews with Inver Grove Heights officers who recalled that Stanger took an unusual interest in the construction equipment theft case.

Stanger regularly asked for updates about the case, officers said, and expressed wanting to participate in the Feb. 25 search — things that didn't typically happen, they said.

"Generally the chief doesn't ask questions," one officer said. "He generally talks about the weather."

Stanger denied asking his staff about the search warrant. He did tell investigators that he'd offered to have his son visit the auto shop.

"I didn't volunteer him. I didn't say 'He will do this,' " Stanger said. "I said, 'This is an option.' "

Stanger did not respond to a request for comment.

Though officers didn't let Stanger's son help with the investigation, documents show that he may have known details about the theft case.

In a written statement on Feb. 28, Hirman wrote that his son had asked him about stolen construction equipment after speaking with Stanger's son. Stanger had asked his son to find out about the stolen equipment, he said.

In an interview with investigators, Stanger denied telling his son to talk to Hirman's son. He did ask his son about Hirman after realizing that the two were Facebook friends, he said, but only to gauge whether his son had any involvement with the stolen equipment.

"I spoke with him with my dad hat on," Stanger said. "I did not give him any information."

Stanger remains on leave. Lt. Sean Folmar is serving as interim chief.