New Award Named After Minnesota Officer Shot In The Line Of Duty

A retired Minnesota police officer, who was shot in the line of duty and survived, is now the namesake of a new award that his former department will give. Officer Arik Matson, who was shot while responding to a call for service in January 2020, is the inspiration behind the Officer Arik Matson Legacy Service Award.

The Waseca Police Department shared the news on social media yesterday.

Waseca Police Department Chief Kris Markeson announces the establishment of the Officer Arik Matson Legacy Service Award.

A unique new recognition has been created for Waseca Police Department Officers to honor the good work and accomplishments of their peers. The Officer Arik Matson Legacy Service Award is named in honor of retired Officer Arik Matson, who was critically injured in a January 2020 on-duty shooting, which left him with a traumatic brain injury and required him to medically retire from his much-loved law enforcement career.The criteria for the award are based on positive character traits Officer Matson exemplified during his career: Cooperative Spirit, Community Engagement and Willingness to Improve Oneself.

Chief Markeson said: “This award is unique because it was created with input from Arik and he will choose the recipient each year. We are blessed that Arik survived this attempt on his life and thought this was a good way to carry his legacy into the future generations of the Waseca Police Department. The goal is for Officers to model Arik’s positive character throughout their career and for their peers to recognize their hard work and nominate them for the award. It creates an environment of positivity and pride in their service, which leads to overall improvements in our work with the community.”

The Waseca Police Department expects to award the first Officer Arik Matson Legacy Service Award at a recognition event later this year.

If you remember, after Matson was shot, hundreds of officers from all corners of the state came to stand by his hospital bed, as well as cover patrol shifts in the small Southern Minnesota town. It was a testament to the brotherhood that exists in law enforcement across the country.

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Since his medical retirement, Matson and his family have been subjects of a documentary that followed his recovery from the traumatic brain injury, as well as seeing Matson go hunting in Alaska.

You can watch the documentary below.

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