1 Year Later: Waseca PD “We are still here and so is Arik…”

It was one year ago, many here in Southern Minnesota were waking up to the news of a Waseca police officer who was shot in the line of duty in the early morning hours of January 6th, 2020. That officer, Arik Matson, who not only survived a traumatic brain injury after being shot by a suspect in the head, he rehabbed, is starting to walk on his own and speak more. Matson shared a 3:45 second video to his social media account this morning stating.

▪︎January 6, 2020▪︎

Was the day that changed my life forever... these clips are just a glimpse of my recovery. This video is raw, but a reality of my journey.

The post from the Waseca Police Department states:

One year ago today our world changed. No one has been impacted more than Officer Arik Matson. Arik continues to recuperate and address his injuries. We think of him every single day. We miss Arik and feel incomplete without him.

Honestly, it has been a year filled with mixed emotions. Anger, disbelief, heartache, gratitude and hope are just a few of the many emotions we have felt when thinking of what happened to Arik. We have tried our best to cope and some days have been better than others. We are still here and so is Arik and that is what is most important to remember.

We have talked with and heard from so many kind and wonderful people throughout the entire United States. There simply are not enough words to express our gratitude to everyone who helped him, his family and our department. A simple thank you just doesn’t seem enough but we do sincerely thank each and every one of you for what you have done for Arik, his family and for us.

So today we honor and recognize Arik and we are thankful.

To know it's only been a year since those events surrounding the traumatic brain injury that Arik suffered seems more like decades ago with the progress he has made with his recovery.

Today on the one-year anniversary, a hoodie with Matson Strong on the back, from Hometown Hero Outdoors is now available for pre-order if you'd like to support his upcoming hunt in Alaska and the documentary to follow.