×

Steck’s resignation formally accepted

The resignation of former Webster County Sheriff’s Office Detective Tom Steck was formally accepted by the Webster County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning.

Steck, who had been placed on paid administrative leave last November after an investigation into possible criminal activity and misconduct was opened, submitted his resignation to Sheriff Luke Fleener on July 27. Fleener sent an email to all WCSO staff that day to inform them of Steck’s resignation.

According to the email, Fleener received a summary report of the investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation in June. The report, Fleener wrote, included the allegations made against Steck, which “almost all” had occurred when Steck was a detective with the Fort Dodge Police Department. The sheriff also noted that the summary report indicated that no criminal charges will be filed against Steck.

Some of the allegations against Steck were revealed in June when former Deputy Amy Stringer filed a complaint with the Iowa Civil Rights Commission alleging that she faced retaliation from the sheriff and Chief Deputy Derek Christie after she had made the initial complaints to the DCI that triggered the investigation into Steck.

Stringer’s initial complaint to the Division of Criminal Investigation alleged that Steck was involved in criminal activity and that she had witnessed his “inappropriate and illegal behavior,” namely “covering up for an informant by providing him with a fake alibi,” “beating a person in custody without cause” and forcing Stringer to drive by a female colleague’s house “because Steck wanted to stalk her.”

In the email Fleener sent to WCSO staff on July 27, he wrote that he and Christie first learned of the details of the allegations against Steck when the DCI released the summary report in June.

However, Stringer alleges in her civil rights complaint that Fleener had previously been informed of the allegations by Webster County Attorney Darren Driscoll.

On Tuesday, Fleener told The Messenger that after receiving the summary report on June 17, he and Christie began an internal investigation to review the department’s policies and procedures and speak to legal advisors at the Iowa Communities Assurance Pool, which handles insurance for Iowa public entities. This was done in accordance with protocol established by Iowa Code 80F, also known as the “officer’s bill of rights,” the sheriff said.

“Typical internal investigations don’t last very long,” Fleener said. “And we’re required to have a conclusion within 10 days.”

Because Steck resigned prior to the July 28 deadline for the conclusion of the internal investigation, the investigation was closed, Fleener said.

Fleener also confirmed that as sheriff, he alone has hiring and firing authority for the WCSO, similar to other county department heads’ authorities over their own employees. He did not answer The Messenger’s written question as to why no action was taken to terminate Steck’s employment during the 37 weeks he was on administrative leave, including after the sheriff became aware of the allegations against Steck.

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today