Minnetonka Police Officer Honored as ‘Officer of the Year’

Last month, while Minnetonka Police Officer Shannon Odegaard was enjoying a day off work, he received a phone call on his personal cell phone from the police chief.

Odegaard had no idea why the chief was calling. But in that short conversation, the six-year veteran of the police force received news he never thought he’d hear. He was voted “Officer of the Year.”

The Glen Lake Optimists Officer of the Year is recommended by the Minnetonka Police Department to the Optimists, based on the following criteria:

• Officer should be someone who daily demonstrates the city’s Shared Values.
• Officer provides leadership, formally or informally in a positive manner.
• Officer has demonstrated a continued commitment to the department and community through a high level of performance.

Generally, Minnetonka city officials say sergeants from the police department nominate officers for the award. Chief Mark Racquet, along with Captains Scott Boerboom and Jeff Sebenaler choose a winner from among those nominations.

“I was completely thrown back by it,” Odegaard said. “I did not expect anything like that to be happening.”

He says that, but a quick look at his résumé tells a different story.

According to a news release from the city of Minnetonka, he served three years in the department’s traffic unit, “during which time he demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and dedication to the department and its goals.”

“I work hard at what I do. I like what I do. I enjoy it a lot,” Odegaard said. “I think it’s that combination that gets noticed.”

Another thing his colleagues noticed about Odegaard is what he does in his spare time. He serves as an academic advisor for the Minnetonka police explorer program, in which he trains and mentors high school-aged students who have an interest in law enforcement.

“It’s something that’s very near and dear to me,” he said. “Especially since I was once a part of the program [in high school]. I know what can come out of it.”

Odegaard’s other claim to fame is that he is the first Minnetonka police officer to be selected to serve on the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Honor Guard (as detailed in an featured in Patch last month).

“I’ve really got to give a lot of thanks to my department, my coworkers and the administration,” Odegaard said. “The stuff that I do, I wouldn’t be able to do it without their help and their continued support.”