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Except for two years of school in Alexandria and two years as a Pipestone County Deputy, Matt Sorenson lived his entire life in Rock County and spent his entire career in the Minnesota State Patrol.
At his Dec. 3 retirement party in Luverne, Sorenson reflected on 34 years in law enforcement, 32 of them with the State Patrol.
“It’s been good,” he said, surrounded by family, friends and colleagues.
“There were some tough times and tough situations, but the people have been … It’s been good.”
His short retirement speech wasn’t a surprise to those who know him.
“Matt is a man of few words, but when he speaks, he speaks volumes,” Rock County Sheriff Evan Verbrugge said afterward.
“He is calm in the eye of the storm, but when he needs to act, he will do so.”
Captain Casey Meagher of the State Patrol Marshall District offered similar praise when he nominated Sorenson for a Distinguished Service Award.
“Lt. Sorenson provides incredible support to the troopers in the Marshall State Patrol District, to our allied agency partners and to the general motoring public,” Meagher recently wrote in the nomination.
“He has a reputation of being fair, honest and respectful while having established strong working relationships across agency and rank boundaries.”
Sorenson said he’ll miss the people he’s come to know and the relationships he’s built over the years, with both law enforcement and the general public.
“I got to know so many really good people,” Sorenson said. “I’ll miss them and our friendly conversations, whether it’s the gas station attendant who knew my schedule or staff in the Marshall office and county law enforcement centers.”
Meagher said Sorenson had a way of bringing out the best in people, especially the troopers he worked with, treating each one with respect and professionalism.
“Lt. Sorenson is known for his logical and creative approach to problem solving,” Meagher said. “His positive attitude and approach to daily tasks is contagious to those who work alongside him.”
Changing rank, continued public service
This work ethic, along with training and experience, raised his rank from trooper to corporal and in 2014 to lieutenant, which put him and his partner lieutenant at the helm of 30 troopers in 13 southwest Minnesota counties of the Marshall District.
Sorenson frequently assisted the Governor’s Office with security details, and he was deployed with fellow State Patrol troopers to the George Floyd riots of 2020 and the Republican National Convention in 2008.
For most of his career he specialized in crash reconstructions to investigate fatal and serious injury crashes.
But generally, he assisted the motoring public, often in bad weather and with roadside emergencies.
“Working in blizzards were some the scariest things I won’t miss,” Sorenson said about icy roads and poor visibility.
“I can remember one time running in the median from a box truck that rolled and sank in the snow. The snow covered me as he rolled over. … He stopped probably 20 feet from me.”
For this reason, Lori Sorenson said she’ll be glad her husband is retired.
“I’m glad I won’t have to worry about him during those long winter shifts,” she said at the retirement party. “And we’re grateful for the troopers and younger officers who are still out there protecting and serving.”
Verbrugge, who’s been with the Rock County Sheriff’s Office for 31 years, often worked with Sorenson and the State Patrol during blizzards and other incidents such as apprehending suspects.
“Matt didn’t complain; you could tell that he loved what he did as a Minnesota State Trooper,” Verbrugge said.
“In law enforcement, we see people in their most vulnerable state, and Matt always treated the people with respect and dignity and empathized with them.”
He said he appreciated Sorenson’s professionalism.
“After many years in law enforcement you can become hard to people’s feelings, but Matt always kept his professionalism and I think other officers have looked up to him for how to present themselves in the public.”
Retired trooper,
still a farmer
Sorenson grew up on a farm west of Hardwick, the son of Arden and Mary Ellen Sorenson. He graduated from Jasper High School in 1986 and from Alexandria Technical College Law Enforcement program in 1988.
After summer jobs with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks and a two-year stint with the Pipestone County Sheriff’s Office, Sorenson started in 1990 with the State Patrol.
The 10-hour shifts with several days off in between allowed him to continue raising corn and soybeans on the family farm and on the acreage west of Luverne where he and Lori live.
Their combined family includes his daughter, Alexx Sorenson, and grandson Colton, in Edgerton and Lori’s sons, Jonathan Ehde in Sioux Falls and the late Carson Ehde, who died this summer at 21.
In addition to farming in retirement, Sorenson will continue as treasurer of the Rock County Pheasants and recently accepted appointments to the Rock County Rural Water Board and the American Association of State Troopers.
Final 10-7 to dispatch
At the end of the day Friday, Dec. 2, Sorenson, known by his lietenant badge number as 2302, completed radio signoff for the last time.
“2302 will be 10-7,” he radioed the dispatcher as he had thousands of times before. “Have a good night.”
The dispatcher noted the time, and continued:
“On behalf of the citizens of Minnesota, the Minnesota State Patrol District 2300 and Minnesota State Patrol radio communications, we thank you for your 32 years of dedicated service. It’s been an honor working with you. Congratulations, and enjoy your retirement.”