State Fair official sues sheriff, claims retaliation after internal investigation

State Fair Deputy Chief Files Lawsuit Alleging Widespread Retaliation

A high-ranking law enforcement official with the Minnesota State Fair is taking legal action against fair management and the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, claiming he was targeted for retaliation after raising critical safety concerns.

Captain Timothy Hlavac, the Assistant Police Chief for both the Minnesota State Fair and Mounds View public safety departments, filed the lawsuit in Ramsey County District Court. The complaint centers on allegations that his internal reporting of security lapses and undue influence led to the destruction of his professional reputation and a hostile work environment.

Claims of Muzzled Oversight

According to legal documents, Hlavac contends that internal investigations against him were fabricated as a response to his complaints. He asserts that fair administrators actively worked to discredit him after he identified instances where rules were bent due to outside political or business pressures.

The lawsuit describes an environment where uniform enforcement practices were ignored. At the heart of the dispute is a reported attempt by a Ramsey County sergeant to escalate citations into more severe criminal charges specifically at the point of arrest, undermining independent police discretion.

This issue of politicized policing, the suit argues, threatened standard operational procedure during large-scale events. Hlavac states he served as "the morality [and] credibility person for the police department," responsible for ensuring unbiased, timely arrests.

Specific Allegations and Timeline

The complaint provides a chronological list of alleged behavior, including:

• Policy Violations: Accuses Melissa Harmoning, State Fair Deputy General Manager and Human Resources head, along with Security Director Glenn Eskitis, of handling internal violations directly and instituting three separate formal disciplinary suspensions unjustly.


• External Coercion: Claims Ramsey County Administration forced the Minnesota State Fair Board into a restrictive contract requiring full deputy sheriff patrol scheduling, giving the sheriff latitude Hlavac could not oversee publicly.


• Intimidation: States Sergeant Steven Aldrich publicly accused Hlavac of insubordination for questioning incorrect practices order on how DUI stops were handled long-wards supervisors office by repeated criticisms at subordinates level commands.


• Constructive Discipline Drive on Position Defamation impact operations : All legal resources management formally considered non recourse voluntary removal protective officer

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