April 2017 Salute to Law Enforcement: Sergeant Matthew Anderson

Via Wahpeton Police Department 

Sergeant Matthew Anderson, currently in his 14th year of general service and 8th year as a Patrol Sergeant with the Wahpeton Police Department, is a native of Braham, MN. Sergeant Anderson graduated from Minnesota State University- Moorhead and the University of North Dakota Lake Region Law Enforcement Academy before beginning his law enforcement career with the Hillsboro Police Department. Since joining the Wahpeton Police Department, Sergeant Anderson has received considerable specialized training and is a certified Police Instructor, is Commander of the multi-agency Southern Valley Special Response Team (SRT) and manages the department’s DUI, Occupant Protection and Underage Drinking Enhanced Enforcement efforts and other grant activities. In addition, Matthew volunteers with the Watch Dogs (Dads of Great Students) mentoring program at Wahpeton Elementary School and serves on the Property Board of Bethel Lutheran Church. Sergeant Anderson is being recognized for the strong work ethic that he has consistently displayed since day one with the Wahpeton Police Department and for his exceptional job performance over the course of the past year, during which he stepped up to meet a variety of professional challenges with unwavering competence. During the last year, Matthew was greatly involved in the choosing of a new location for the police department, was largely responsible for determining the remodel and furnishing requirements for the new facility and then organized and supervised the actual move into the new facility. During this same time, Matthew took on additional supervisory responsibilities while I, Chief Thorsteinson, was presented with a series of health challenges that restricted my own ability to run the department’s daily operation. Matthew met all of these challenges in an exemplary fashion and did so without complaint, traits which seem to be less common with very passing day.