New Police Lieutenant a 16-Year Veteran of the Department

Inver Grove Heights Police Chief Chuck Kleckner describes Sean Folmar as an eager-to-learn, strongly-motivated police officer.

And those traits, Kleckner said, will serve Folmar well as he takes on a new role within the Inver Grove Heights Police Department. Earlier this month, Folmar was selected  to replace Lt. Jerry Salmey, who retired at the end of May after 30 years of service in Inver Grove Heights. On Monday, the Inver Grove Heights City Council approved the promotion for Folmar, who previously held a sergeant's post within the department.

Folmar has moved steadily through the ranks of the department over his 16-year career—earning accolades and praise from his superiors along the way. Hired as a patrol officer by the department in 1995, he was promoted to investigator in 1999, and sergeant in 2005. This winter, Folmar was recognized by the Dakota County Chiefs of Police Association for his role in the. Kleckner also credits Folmar for successfully reorganizing the department's field training program—which newly-hired police officers with the department undergo as part of their training.

“If you said the name Sean Folmar, a couple of things would come to mind immediately. Number one, he’s extremely enthusiastic,” Kleckner said. "He’s one of those people who really looks forward to new challenges, he’s not afraid to take on new stuff. Sean will embrace it and take it and run with it."

In his new position, Folmar will be responsible for overseeing the patrol division of the department, as well as the community service and police reserve officers, Kleckner said. He was selected from a pool of four applicants for the position, and underwent both a written examination and interview as part of the application process. Folmar's promotion was effective as of Tuesday.

For the immediate future, Folmar said, he'll be adjusting to the new responsibilies and duties of his position.

"I was happy to be given the opportunity,” Folmar said of the promotion. “I enjoy the people I work with and I like the diversity of the community. The size of the department is big enough that it has opportunities, but it’s small enough that you get to know all of the people you work with."