A 25-year veteran of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation has been on paid administrative leave for more than a month, but officials say it’s a “personnel matter” and details aren’t being disclosed. A spokesperson for the Department of Public Safety, Robert Hansen, confirms DCI Special Agent in Charge Larry Hedlund has been on paid leave since May 1.
Hansen says the reason for Hedlund’s removal is being kept confidential, but he added media reports that Hedlund was “suspended” are not accurate. Since 2010, Hedlund has served as the top supervisor in one of the DCI’s four geographic zones.
Based in Fort Dodge, Hedlund has overseen DCI activities in an area covering north central and northeastern Iowa. The 55-year-old Hedlund supervised the investigation into the kidnapping and killing of two young cousins who disappeared in Evansdale last July and were found dead in December.
No one has been charged in the deaths of 10-year-old Lyric Cook and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins. Hansen released a statement saying the “DCI continues to utilize a number of highly skilled and experienced Special Agents to follow every lead in the Evansdale case.”