Stark County Sheriff's Department adds deputy

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Matt Hanson recently became a deputy with the Stark County Sheriff's Department.

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Matt Hanson recently got the job he has been looking forward to for as long as he can remember. He became a Stark County Sheriff’s Department deputy May 26.

“It’s always been something I’ve been working toward,” he said. “I’ve always respected cops and always wanted to be one. I’ve never seen myself doing anything else.”

He is filling a position vacated by Candie Rosencrans. The department now has all patrol positions filled, said Sheriff Clarence Tuhy.

Hanson likes the idea of helping people and serving the community.

He grew up in LaMoure and worked part-time as a security guard in Fargo before he was hired by Stark County.

He went to college for criminal justice at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He also attended the law enforcement academy in Alexandria, Minn. last summer.

Hanson said he wanted to be part of a sheriff’s department.

“You’re not just set to one specific area of a town,” he said. “You have a little more freedom to do more things.”

Stark County is an ideal location for Hanson, he said, because of the smaller population.

“I grew up in a small town. I’m used to the small town neighborhoods where everyone waves to each other,” Hanson said. “I didn’t want to get into the whole big city scheme of everything.”

Tuhy said he is happy Hanson joined the department.

“He’s great. I think he’s going to fit into the department and the community very well,” Tuhy said. “It’s good to get the caliber of people putting in the applications like this.”

Hanson is not only beginning a new chapter in his career, but also in his home life. He married Nikki Hebl Saturday.

Hanson would like to eventually progress into a more “hands-on” position like the South Sakakawea Narcotics Task Force, he said.

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