Sgt. Josh Sorensen Named Officer of the Year

On May 9th, in front of friends, family, as well as brothers and sisters in blue, Sergeant Josh Sorensen, Badge # 118, was named as Owatonna's Police Officer of the Year. Even Mayor Tom Kuntz joined in with the festivities, with an official proclamation that May 9th was Josh Sorensen Day.

It was the 2019 Officer of the Year banquet, held at the VFW Hall in Owatonna, sponsored by the Moonlighter's Exchange Club of Owatonna. Sgt. Sorensen has been with the Owatonna Police Department as a full-time officer since being hired in 2004. He was assigned as an investigator 5 years later and promoted to Sergeant in 2011.

Sgt. Sorensen has also served as a school resource officer, field training officer, detective, and Explorer advisor. He has been very involved in the OPD, as well as the community, being an Owatonna native. He coaches youth wrestling and the high school clay target team.

I have met Sgt. Sorensen more than a few times, he was the SRO when my older daughter was at Owatonna Jr High school. He also ran one of the classes for the Owatonna Citizen's Police Academy, the Use of Force class, with fellow officer, Det. Matt Oeltjenbruns.

I fully believe that the attitudes and actions of the police officers here in Owatonna come from the top, and Chief Hiller, along with his captains, are doing a great job in leading their officers. They support community involvement, they support their officers, and in turn, the officers support the community, both the good and not-so-good aspects. That Sgt. Sorensen was recognized for the integrity and discipline he possesses is not a surprise at all. It's quite the honor, and Sgt. Sorensen, of course, gave credit to his fellow officers as well, saying they are trying to make a difference in the community.

Source: Owatonna People's Press