(Alexandria, MN)-Former Alexandria Police Chief Rick Wyffels has entered a guilty plea to an amended charge of Gross Misdemeanor Misconduct of a Public Officer or Employee after initially facing a felony Theft by Swindle charge.
The plea comes in the wake of a year-long investigation by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) into alleged financial crimes.
Wyffels, who served the city from 1987 to 2020 and held the position of chief of police from November 2006 to September 2020, was arrested by BCA agents following the investigation.
Approximately four weeks after Wyffels’ retirement, the city of Alexandria became aware of unaccounted-for expenditures and purchases.
In response, the city promptly engaged the BCA to conduct an independent investigation.
City staff fully cooperated with the BCA throughout the process, providing financial records from 2015 to 2020 as requested by the investigative agency.
The court, in accordance with the plea agreement, has sentenced Wyffels to pay a $50 fine, a $75 surcharge, and a $15 law library fee.
Additionally, Wyffels will serve 120 days in jail, with 116 days stayed for one year under specific conditions.
These conditions include making a restitution payment of $65,000.00 to the League of MN Cities Insurance Trust (the nonprofit cooperative insurance organization for Alexandria) within five days of sentencing, paying the fines by February 1, 2024, being on unsupervised probation during the stay, and maintaining a clean record for one year.
City officials emphasize that plea agreements are decisions made by prosecutors after careful consideration of all evidence and potential trial outcomes.
Because of local conflicts of interest, the Stearns County Attorney’s office prosecuted this case.
Victim Impact Statements, submitted by individuals including Alexandria Police Chief Scott Kent, Mayor Bobbie Osterberg, City Attorney Tom Jacobson, and City Administrator Marty Schultz, underscore the profound breach of trust experienced by the community during Wyffels’ tenure.
Mayor Osterberg notes that since 2020, the city has implemented new policies and procedures for all purchasing and credit card usage, reinforcing a commitment to maintaining high ethical standards for its employees.
Reflecting on the situation, Mayor Osterberg acknowledges the strength and resilience of the Alexandria community.
“Although the city of Alexandria was subjected to an egregious abuse of power during Mr. Wyffels’ time of employment, our community can move on from this experience with honor and dignity. Alexandria is strong. We learn from experiences, and we grow together.”